Manitoba is offering businesses a wage subsidy to boost employment now that COVID-19 restrictions are lifting.

Premier Brian Pallister says the province will reimburse businesses 50 per cent of total wages for up to five workers hired or rehired after today.

The subsidy will last for up to 10 weeks and provide a maximum of $5,000 per worker.

Pallister says it's an expansion of a program targeted at hiring students. “We want to get more Manitobans back to work this summer and ease the road to recovery for businesses as well."

Until now, the wage subsidy was only available for student summer jobs. Expanding it to employees of all ages will help reverse job losses caused by the pandemic’s effects on the economy, Pallister says.