Sears Canada is targeting Canadian employees at American retailer Target who are facing the unemployment line.

Sears is looking to pick up some of the more than 17,000 Target workers affected by the U.S. retailer's closure of 133 stores across Canada.

Target announced on Thursday it's getting out of the Canadian market.

Sears is encouraging Target employees interested in job opportunities to visit its website.

It says next week the website will have information on special events regarding career opportunities such as local job fairs across Canada.

Target employees have a $70-million employment trust ensuring that most of them affected by the closures get at least 16 weeks of severance pay. The fund will be administered by retired Ontario Superior Court justice John Ground, a mediator and bankruptcy expert.

Sears says there will also be an open invitation to Target Canada head office employees for a meet-and-greet with Sears executives next week in Toronto.

In addition, Sears says affected Target Canada employees will be offered the Sears Canada employee discount for a period of 16 weeks, beginning next week.