Hiring Co-op Students

► Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) 

The Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program has announced changes to SWPP funding beginning April 1, 2022. Funding will now be granted based on the following eligibility criteria:

  1. Net new hiring restrictions will be reintroduced. Net new refers to the growing number of students you hire each year and represents the number of work placement subsidies you are eligible for.
  2. Post-secondary institutions are no longer eligible employers
  3. Funding will cover up to 50% of student wages (to a maximum of $5,000). Students hired from under-represented groups, including first-year students, women in STEM, indigenous students, persons with disabilities and newcomers, may be eligible to have up to 70% (to a maximum of $7,000) of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term.
  4. Co-op students may continue to work in-person, from home, or in a hybrid work setting.

The Government of Canada has a variety of funding opportunities as part of the  Student Work Placement Program  (SWPP) administered by Employment and Social Development Canada will be extended to 2024. Through SWPP, employers can apply for wage subsidies of up to $7,000 to hire co-op students.  

Below are currently confirmed industry partners administering the SWPP program and our co-op programs meet the eligibility requirements.   

Consider these funding opportunities for your co-op hiring needs.

  • TECHNATION (formerly ITAC) – Career Ready Program - The program provides up to 50% (to a maximum of $5,000) of a work term student's pay in wage subsidies to employers. Employers who hire students from underrepresented groups including women in STEM, Indigenous students, visible minorities, recent immigrants, persons with disabilities, first-year students and students in their first placement term may also qualify for additional funding (up to 70% or $7,000). Supports any tech-immersive roles across many different disciplines and functions; the employer does not need to be a tech company to promote tech skills development.

 

  • Information and Communication Technology Council (ICTC) – WIL Digital - Canadian employers working in one of these emerging sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Intelligent Retail, or Big Data, Clean Tech, Connected transportation, Entertainment and Gaming, e-Health and providing a paid work integrated learning (WIL) experience to a post-secondary student studying full-time in science, technology, engineering, math or business in Canada are eligible to apply to receive a subsidy up to 70% of wages (capped at either $7,000 or at the end of 4 months).

 

 

  • Biotalent Canada – Student Work Placement Program - Covers the cost of a co-op student's salary up to 50% (max. $5,000) and up to 70% (max $7,000) for first year students and underrepresented groups. The co-op position needs to have a biotechnology focus, or the employer needs to have a biotechnology focus.  *NEW - Healthcare organizations are now eligible to apply for student wage subsidy. 

 

 

  • Venture for Canada VFC - The Venture for Canada Atlantic Internship Program is a paid, subsidized internship opportunity program for Canadian post-secondary students to work in Atlantic Canadian startups and growing small businesses. 

 

  • Magnet Student Work Placement - The program is delivered by Magnet along with a range of recognized associations and organizations who represent key industries and sectors in Canada.​ Together, they partner with colleges, universities, polytechnics and CEGEPs to: provide wage subsidies, create recruitment opportunities, and, convene educators and employers to help align PSE curricula to the skills needs of industry. 

 

  • Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC), (For employers within the manufacturing sector)  via its WILWorks program, is a preferred partner for the Government of Canada to deliver the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) to Canada's manufacturing and related sectors. WILWorks will provide value to manufacturing employers by providing wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements

 

  • Talent Opportunities Program-  For registered Canadian business or non-profits -An initiative of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce designed to help employers located anywhere in Canada hire college and university students on work placements. Employers hiring eligible students may receive a wage subsidy up to 70%  (up to a maximum of $7,000) per placement. Employers must be a registered Canadian business or not-for-profit organization, may be located anywhere in Canada, and may operate in any industry sector.

 

  • Trucking HR Canada – Employers hiring students for work terms in the Canadian truck transportation and logistics industry may qualify for wage subsidies up to 70% (up to a maximum of $7,000) per placement.  Trucking HR Canada advances modern HR solutions for the trucking and logistics workforce they collaborate, partner, and work with a dynamic network including industry associations, government departments and industry professionals to ensure Canada’s freight transportation network has the skilled workforce needed for today and into the future. 

 

  • Tourism HR - Employers hiring students in the tourism and hospitality sectors can benefit from the Propel initiative. This new initiative's main objective is to help the hardest-hit sector recover from the devasting impacts of the pandemic. 

 

  • Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) - The CHRC brings together cultural workers and employers to address training, career development and other HR issues. If you are an employer who offers work terms in the arts and cultural sector, focusing on relevant needed skill sets in the sector, consider applying for funding through this SWPP partner. 

 

  • Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC) -  Food Processing Skills Canada’s Student Work Placement Program is a program for employers in the Canadian food and beverage manufacturing industry to hire students in colleges and universities across the country. Posting a job, hiring a college or university student, and accessing up to $7,000 in wage subsidy is easy. 

 

  • Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) - The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) is a national, non-profit organization focused on addressing human resource issues facing agricultural businesses across Canada. Create work placements in the agriculture sector, targeting students in both agriculture-related programs and disciplines not related to agriculture, with a focus on under-represented groups.

► Other Funding Programs

  • Career-Ready with CTMA: Hiring Grants for Automotive & Advanced Manufacturers - Career-Ready with CTMA and manufacturers that fall into the automotive sector can receive between $3,000-15,000 per candidate (multiple candidates per employer are also accepted) depending on the length of the work term. Administered by the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association and Mentor Works, the hiring grant supports Ontario’s automotive manufacturing industry by helping employers hire and deliver meaningful work experiences to co-op students, recent graduates, and potential new apprentices.Fill out the form here Career-Ready with CTMA Page or contact Jamie (jamie@mentorworks.ca) directly to confirm their eligibility and start the application process.

  • Career-Ready with Auto Stream Program - Partner: Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) - To help connect students with careers in the auto sector, APMA is working with colleges and universities to help place 669 students, apprentices and recent graduates with jobs and careers in Ontario’s automotive supply sector.  Participants will gain practical on-the-job experience to help launch their careers in the automotive sector. The CRF program supports employers by contributing to the cost of hiring students while building a pipeline to support talent growth and attraction to the sector. Businesses will receive $3,000 per placement, and $5,000 per placement if the participant has a disability. A single placement lasts 10 weeks to 4 months, and participants may qualify for up to 3 placements in a calendar year.

  • Mitacs Accelerate - Solve your research challenges with academic expertise, leveraged funding, and one-to-one support from Mitacs. Internships start at four months and can scale up as much as you need — your financial contribution starts at $7,500.

Please contact our office if you have any questions about the various hiring incentives, recruit@uoguelph.ca, or (519) 824-4120 x52323.