Employment statistics

Employment statistics

To ensure students have access to the most up-to-date employment information, we publish our employment rates throughout each hiring term via the portal below. 

Once you’ve logged in using your WatIAM credentials, you’ll be able to view both current and historical employment statistics filtered by term, faculty, program and level. Each term's data will be updated every night to represent the final results from the previous day.

Please note that the recruiting period extends into the work term as some co-op students continue their search until the last day to secure employment for co-op credit (usually about four weeks after the work term begins). For a list of current co-op dates and deadlines, visit the co-op important dates calendar.

Here’s an example of what you’ll see, overlaid with key points of the recruitment cycle (login to view actual co-op employment statistics below):

 first interview cycle, continuous interview cycle and direct interview cycle (which extends into the work term). Actual employment statistics (by term and by date) can be accessed via the portal below.

In order to login, please use your email ending in "@uwaterloo.ca" and the associated password after clicking on the link above.


How we calculate our employment rate

The co-op employment rate consists of the number of employed students divided by the total number of students participating in co-op recruitment
Employment rate formula
The total population of students participating in recruitment is comprised of: All employed students, students searching for employment through the traditional co-op interview process (UI status students), students searching for employment outside the co-op interview process (UN and US statuses), and students awaiting a decision on employment secured external to the co-op interview process (UA status).

For a full list of possible student statuses and what they mean, consult the co-op roles and responsibilities.


If you haven't found a co-op job (yet)

Some students (typically at the junior level, looking for their first or second work term) struggle to find employment due to a number of factors, including: 

  • Work location preferences
  • Availability of jobs in your field
  • Which jobs you choose to apply to
  • Economy trends
  • Your work experience
  • Your work search strategy
  • Your employable and interview skills

If you’re struggling to find employment for your work term, we will continue to work with you to help you find a co-op job or gain experience in some other way. Here are some things you can do: 

  • Continue searching into the beginning of your scheduled work term! Learn more about the last day to start work to receive credit for your work term on our important dates calendar.
  • Arrange your own job (standard or flex) that will count for co-op credit
  • Take an off term and gain experience through pursuing a non-co-op opportunity or taking an academic course
  • Take a PD course to reflect on your academic and/or personal experience
  • Talk to both your academic and co-op advisor about options available to you in relation to your program 

If you have questions about the employment rate or need help with your work search, connect with your co-op advisor!