Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Archives - SRDC

Exploring Co-op Participation, Schooling and Labour Market Outcomes Using Longitudinal Linked Administrative Data

Wallaa Daramlly — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:44:16 +0000

SRDC aims to expand understanding of work‑integrated learning (WIL) in Canada by examining co‑op participation and its relationship to students’ postsecondary and early career pathways. Using the Education and Labour Market Longitudinal Platform, the project analyzes British Columbia’s postsecondary system – one of the few jurisdictions with reliable PSIS co‑op reporting and linked K‑12 data – offering a rare opportunity to study one aspect of WIL participation at scale. We assess the reliability and consistency of the PSIS co‑op indicator in BC and in selected Ontario institutions, supported by a sensitivity test using WIL data from the National Graduates Survey. We then examine who participates in co‑op and explore associations between co‑op, postsecondary persistence, and early labour market outcomes.

Overall, the aim is to: 1) demonstrate what can be learned from this WIL indicator in linked administrative data, 2) provide HEQCO with new insights into student pathways and outcomes, and 3) highlight opportunities to strengthen Ontario’s WIL data infrastructure.

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Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) Socioeconomic Impacts Analysis

Wallaa Daramlly — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:03:05 +0000

This project estimates the socioeconomic impacts of Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) through an instrumental variable of a discrete event. Through the econometric analysis, this project aims to understand the average economic impacts on outputs, growth, and commercialization efforts of the two ISC funding streams as well as their distribution.

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Net Cost of Postsecondary Non-Completion in Ontario

Wallaa Daramlly — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:37:53 +0000

Students enrolling in postsecondary programs without graduating is often portrayed as a policy problem. It is seen as costly; costly to government as they invest heavily in postsecondary education (PSE); costly for students who discontinue their own education and do not reap the benefits associated with a credential; and costly to the economy in the form of net lower skills in the workforce, a weaker match between the individual and the labour market, and even reduced participation, all yielding lower earnings.

SRDC undertook earlier work to define more clearly what non‐completion comprises and analyze its consequences for outcomes such as labour market earnings. This project continues this line of research by developing and locating the data to populate a cost-benefit analysis framework that monetizes the net costs of non-completion to students, institutions, governments, and society and compares them to those attributable to completion of credentials by comparable individuals. A key intention is to estimate “savings” that might be generated from interventions that can increase postsecondary completion. The potential for savings could justify the testing of different potential interventions. This project is in its final stage, completing a wide-ranging cost-benefit analysis of non-completion.

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Estimating the Economic Benefit of the Early Years

Wallaa Daramlly — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 11:29:16 +0000

The Martin Family Initiative (MFI) Early Years began in Maskwacis, Alberta, in 2018 with the aim of co-developing and implementing Indigenous-led, community-based, and relationship-driven early childhood services supporting children. The Early Years bridges community expertise and leadership across the health, education, and social services domains to support Indigenous women, children, and families. With support provided to families prenatally through to preschool stages, the program recognizes that strong Indigenous families and communities are integral to fostering healthy child and brain development. The Martin Family Initiative has engaged SRDC to conduct an economic evaluation of the Early Years to gain insight into both the inherent and economic costs and benefits associated with co-developing and implementing a culturally-grounded, holistic, and Indigenous-centred early childhood intervention model. The economic evaluation will comprise the benefits and costs of the Early Years for individuals and families, community, and governments. This project involves collaboration with members of the community, Maskwacis Health services, and the Martin Family Initiative.

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Skills Compass

U7 Solutions — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 22:54:18 +0000

Young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) are at risk of becoming socially excluded, with low income and lacking the skills to improve their economic situation. Indigenous youth, and youth who are newcomers to Canada, may face additional barriers to becoming engaged in employment or education. Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is leading a pilot project to address potential barriers faced by Indigenous and newcomer NEET youth through a pre-employment training program, wraparound supports, and employment placements. SRDC as the evaluation partner is responsible for developing the evaluation framework and data collection instruments, measuring outputs and outcomes, integrative data analysis, reporting findings, and participating in knowledge mobilization.

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Economic Feasibility Study: Public Policy Alternatives to Promote Education Savings

U7 Solutions — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 22:54:18 +0000

SRDC is supporting Momentum to examine the economic costs of implementing policy options intended to ensure all eligible children claim their Canada Learning Bond. The principal methodology is economic modeling using tools such as the Statistics Canada Social Policy Simulation Database and Model to analyze three policy alternatives: establishing new Canada Education & Training Account; disbursing Canada Learning Bond funds through the Canada Student Loans Program; and expanding Ontario’s online Newborn Registration 5-in-1 Service Bundle nationwide. The aim is to estimate the potential costs that would result from developing and implementing the three policy alternatives in question, as well as any potential savings. The final report is intended to describe the methodology, analysis, findings, and limitations of costing for the three policy alternatives.

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CreateAction: Inclusive Social Innovation

U7 Solutions — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 22:52:59 +0000

CreateAction: Inclusive Social Innovation — This project is evaluating the role that six-month work experience opportunities in the social innovation, social finance, and social enterprise sectors can play in supporting youth who are either not in employment, education, or training (NEET).

The project is being led by the Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) in partnership with SRDC and the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC). The project aims to recruit 100 Indigenous youth, new immigrants, young people living in poverty, those who identify as LGBTQ2S+, young people with disabilities, racialized youth, youth in rural/remote communities, and official language minority youth.

SRDC is supporting the project design, coordinating tailored supports to participants, and leading the project’s evaluation activities. The evaluation is examining how the placement opportunities facilitate the transition of young people to secure employment in the labour market through the development of skills, workplace experience, professional networks, and tailored wraparound supports.

It is also examining how hosting the youth placements will support the capacity and sustainability of innovative social purpose organizations across Canada to hire youth facing barriers from the communities they serve, connect to regional Social Innovation and Social Finance ecosystems, and leverage investments of the Investment Readiness Program and Social Finance Fund.

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Connecting Multi-Barriered Newcomers to the Canadian Labour Market

U7 Solutions — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 22:39:15 +0000

This project involves the design, delivery, and evaluation of a comprehensive package of employment services for the increasing numbers of refugees and other newcomers who have trouble transitioning from settlement to sustained employment. The program model augments traditional language training by offering a holistic suite of employment services including Essential Skill upgrading, technical training, work placement, and job retention support. A randomized control trial design is used to evaluate program impacts, by comparing the outcomes of those who are randomly assigned to receive the new suite of services with a control group who continue receiving existing services.

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Patient Portal Value Proposition

U7 Solutions — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 22:32:43 +0000

SRDC is working with Canada Health Infoway to assess the value and impact of Canadians’ access to online Personal Health Records (PHR) in terms of accessibility, quality, and productivity in healthcare. As a part of this study, SRDC is completing a targeted literature review and evidence synthesis focused on the value of Canadians of being able to access their online healthcare information. This work will support the development of a quantitative model estimating the value of such access for citizens and health system stakeholders. SRDC will also help to identify critical success factors that maximize the benefits of online PHR access. The primary audiences for this project include federal and provincial/territorial ministries of health, health systems organizations, and digital health leaders.

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Community Hypertension Prevention Initiative

U7 Solutions — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 23:27:50 +0000

The Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and MaRS Centre for Impact Investing (MCII) have partnered to launch a community‐based intervention to prevent cardiovascular disease, using a social impact bond as a financing vehicle. This intervention builds off of an evidence-based program called CHAP, and integrates local community partnerships, best-in-class lifestyle management resources, coaching, and digital technology to support participants in engaging in and maintaining healthy behaviours.

The intervention aims to increase awareness of the risks associated with high blood pressure and to modify participant behaviour (e.g., physical activity, weight loss, smoking cessation) among pre-hypertensive Canadians 60 years of age or older. As the external validator, SRDC will be responsible for confirming the extent to which specified outcomes have been achieved – specifically in terms of volume and blood pressure outcomes – and the extent to which the risk-based funding contracts should be paid out to partners and investors. To our knowledge, this project represents the first time social finance has been used to support a population health intervention in Canada. Heart and Stroke notice

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