As a student-led advocacy organization representing over 125,000 college and polytechnic students, we at Ontario Student Voices operate at the forefront of addressing the province’s urgent workforce crisis. With over 100,000 skilled workers needed over the next decade in key sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and construction, the stakes are higher than ever. The province faces a pivotal moment as retiring Baby Boomers and pandemic-related challenges deepen a widening skills gap. As an organization, our vision for the solution is clear: empower postsecondary students to bridge this divide and secure Ontario’s future.
By understanding systemic barriers and championing equitable access to work-integrated learning (WIL), our aim is to acquire resources to support today’s students as they become tomorrow’s workforce. Through bold advocacy and focusing on establishing strategic partnerships with industry, our work is to ensure that students have the opportunities they need to succeed—and that Ontario has the skilled talent it requires to thrive in an ever-evolving economy.
The Skilled Labour Shortage: A Growing Concern
The numbers speak for themselves. In the next 10 years, Ontario will need more than 100,000 skilled workers to support industries critical to its economy. Despite this, a historical emphasis on university education over college pathways and the lack of accessible, hands-on training programs have created gaps in workforce readiness.
Postsecondary students are ideally positioned to fill these roles, especially in colleges and polytechnics. Yet, financial burdens, placement shortages, and a lack of standardized support for WIL experiences hinder their ability to realize this potential fully.
Bridging the Gap with Work-Integrated Learning (WIL)
Work-integrated learning provides students with crucial real-world experiences, preparing them for the workforce while addressing Ontario's skilled labor needs. For 82% of college students, WIL is a mandatory component of their programs. However, many students face barriers such as high transportation costs, housing expenses, and professional certification fees associated with placements.
To address these challenges, OSV is advocating for:
A WIL Bursary Program: This initiative would help students cover placement-related expenses, ensuring equitable access to experiential learning opportunities.
Standardized Assessment Processes: A uniform approach to evaluating students' financial needs for WIL would provide consistency and fairness across institutions.
Advocacy Week: Amplifying Student Voices
During Advocacy Week, we highlighted the critical role of WIL in Ontario’s economic recovery. In collaboration with policymakers and industry leaders, our representatives and student advocates presented actionable solutions to expand WIL opportunities and reduce financial barriers for students.
However, our efforts extend beyond lobbying. Our organization engages with private partners to gain a deeper understanding of the specific barriers they face in providing more WIL opportunities for college students. These crucial details can help determine how to coordinate a joint advocacy effort to eliminate these obstacles. These partnerships also provide valuable context surrounding the skills and competencies various industries require from students, offering an opportunity for us to relay this information and connect with students about it.
Student Success: Stories of Impact
Real-life experiences illustrate the transformative power of WIL. Mica Florence Marsala, a recent graduate of a Special Needs Support program shared how her four-month placement provided critical hands-on experience and connections that shaped her career path. Stories like hers underscore the importance of equitable access to WIL opportunities.
“It equipped me with the skills necessary for success at Head Injury Rehabilitation Ontario. This program provided me with a solid foundation in understanding diverse learning needs and effective support strategies, which have been essential in my role,” she explains.
“Throughout the program, I engaged in hands-on learning experiences that allowed me to apply theoretical concepts in real-world settings. The four-month placement at Head Injury Rehabilitation Ontario was pivotal to my education.”
Our Chair, Alex Oestreicher, echoes the sentiment that prioritizing expanding access to WIL opportunities for students directly correlates with prioritizing the province’s future workforce.
“Students consistently tell us how valuable these opportunities are to them. They want to graduate with the experience that employers are seeking, and we know that employers desire students who already have work experience,” she explains.
“WIL programs make sense for everyone involved, students, colleges, government, and industry alike. We all need to come together to prioritize expanding access for more students and empowering the future workforce that we so desperately need.”
Investing in Students: Ontario’s Economic Future
The workforce crisis is not just a challenge—it’s an opportunity. By investing in postsecondary students through accessible WIL programs, Ontario can address its skills gap while fostering economic growth.
Our advocacy is a call to action for policymakers, industries, and institutions to provide students with comprehensive support across the board. It requires a fundamental shift in perspective and perception that extends beyond supporting more programs to understanding the social, economic, and institutional obstacles that could not only hinder students’ success but prevent access to crucial resources and opportunities. As the future skilled professionals Ontario desperately needs, students need to be prioritized now more than ever.
Ontario’s economic future depends on bridging the skills gap today. By investing in accessible work-integrated learning opportunities and supporting postsecondary students, policymakers, industries, and institutions can build a resilient, skilled workforce. Join us in driving meaningful change—connect with us to learn how you can support this mission.
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