
The Value of Career and Employment Services for International Students
Our latest report explores how international college students and graduates in Ontario and British Columbia use career and employment supports to facilitate their transition to work, highlighting opportunities for post-secondary institutions to improve employment outcomes.
Key Insights
Career services and work-integrated learning matter
- International college students who use career services are more likely to report having Canadian work experience than those who didn’t use career services. They also report higher job satisfaction and are more likely to say their job aligns with their field of study and career goals.
- International college students who take part in work-integrated learning (WIL) feel more prepared for the job market and optimistic about their job prospects than those who didn’t participate in WIL.
Barriers limit access to critical employment supports
- One in four international college students and graduates have not taken part in either WIL or career services.
- Top barriers include difficulty accessing information and lack of time, especially given high levels of financial, academic, and settlement stress.
- Participation in WIL and career services differs by age, sex, and cultural background highlighting the need for targeted solutions.
Canadian colleges have opportunities to strengthen study-to-work transitions
- Career education could be embedded directly into academic programs to provide international college students with comprehensive career guidance before graduation.
- Colleges could promote WIL programs to international students and highlight the employment benefits of these opportunities.
- International student peer mentorship programs could be developed to leverage valuable informal support networks while ensuring students receive accurate career guidance.

The bigger picture
Like other immigrants, international students who stay in Canada after graduation are an important part of our country’s economic future. Improving their study-to-work transitions is crucial for harnessing their potential and maximizing the investments made in their education and settlement.
To delve deeper into our research and recommendations, download our full reports.
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