Exploring Co-op Participation, Schooling and Labour Market Outcomes Using Longitudinal Linked Administrative Data
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.
Project Details
Capability: Socio-Economic Impact Assessment - Data Sciences - Policy Research
Policy Area: Post-Secondary Education - Graduate Labour Market - Access and Persistence
Population: Students - Youth
Start Date: February 2026
Completion Date: December 2026
Sponsors: Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
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