We produce future-ready talent.
The manufacturing industry needs talent to drive growth. From introducing new technologies to supporting strategic sustainable goals and innovating in the lab, co-op students can provide the support you need.
Students are an affordable way to gain a competitive advantage with fresh perspectives. As one of Canada's largest employment sectors, the manufacturing industry can rely on students to help fill the roles of tomorrow. Start by hiring a student today and develop talent for the long term.
Get started today. Take the next steps:
Why hire Waterloo?
Maclean’s University Rankings 2023
QS World University Rankings 2023
Maclean’s Student Voices Survey 2022
Roles co-op students can fill
Tap into valuable skills of Waterloo co-op students in areas such as:
Fund your next hire
Hiring a co-op student through the subsidies and grants below can be an affordable way of building a sustainable talent strategy!
Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)
Through SWPP, Canadian organizations that offer full-time employment opportunities for full-time Canadian post-secondary students can receive wage subsidies.
Funding will cover up to 50 per cent in wage subsidies (to a max. of $5,000) per co-op student hired for each 12–16-week work term. Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70 per cent of their wages subsidized. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term.
Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit
Large corporations can claim 25 per cent of expenditures, up to $3,000 per work placement. Small businesses can claim 30 per cent, up to $3,000. Each work placement must be at least 10 weeks and up to 4 months. This tax credit is available for each eligible work placement. Employers may have multiple work placements at the same time and throughout the year.
The tax credit is per eligible work placement and there is no cap. If an organization decides to hire for an eight-month work term, or two students for four-month work terms, both would be considered as two work placements and would be eligible for a total tax credit of up to $6,000.
Find the right talent today.
Connect with Nicole! 🚀
Nicole is an industry strategist with the University of Waterloo’s Co-operative Education department. She can help guide your recruitment strategy and answer questions about recruiting top co-op talent.
Email: nicole.guenther@uwaterloo.ca
Phone: 226-921-1682
Industry-leading companies hire co-op students
Co-op student supports Nominal Controls’ research and development technology for space application
By: Krista Henry (she/her)
Canadian manufacturer Nominal Controls is tapping into student talent to help transform semiconductor-based technologies.
Co-op students pursue their passion for engineering at Atlantic Industries Limited
By: Krista Henry (she/her)
Connecting students’ passions to meaningful work opportunities furthers innovation at manufacturing company Atlantic Industries Limited (AIL).
Hiring co-op students helps Conestoga Meats avoid future talent gaps
By: Krista Henry (she/her)
When Conestoga Meats looked to the future of the Canadian pork industry, the company saw a talent gap on the horizon. To assist, they tripled the number of co-op students they hired across all departments.