Reflections from CEWIL 2025: Staff takeaways on work-integrated learning
The impact and potential of work-integrated learning are real
LMIC arrived in Hamilton for CEWIL Canada’s annual conference amid an economy in flux, educational institutions facing a new fiscal reality and rising youth unemployment, including among post-secondary graduates. With all of this at stake, CEWIL 2025’s timing felt particularly urgent, given that Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) simultaneously exists at the crossroads of education, industry, and the labour market.
How post-secondary leaders are rethinking WIL delivery
Some institutions, like McMaster shared their approaches to centralizing WIL across their campuses. The goal is to streamline how WIL is delivered institution-wide. In an era of declining revenues across Canada’s post-secondary institutions (PSI), centralization of services offers potential for cost savings and streamlined access but also introduces some challenges. These include securing buy-in from faculty and managing the complexity of centralized service models.
Labour market shifts affect WIL placement
Another theme was the impact of a challenging labour market on PSI’s ability to find placements for students who want to pursue WIL. Several sessions noted that employers offer fewer placements than in previous years, even as student demand for WIL has hit new highs. This mismatch between supply and demand for WIL is prompting some institutions to explore alternative types of WIL and Experiential Learning (EL) opportunities that are smaller, less costly and more accessible—yet can still provide students with meaningful work experience. Although not surprising in the context of global economic shocks and uncertainty, it serves as a reminder of how directly connected the worlds of labour and education can be.
Evidence shows WIL improves outcomes, depending on the credential
One of the most intriguing takeaways from the conference was the growing body of evidence demonstrating improved labour market outcomes for WIL participants (but with new nuances previously not explored). Roger Pizarro Milian and Julie Peters of Academica used the latest iteration of the National Apprenticeship Survey linked to T1FF tax files to explore the impacts of WIL experiences on student labour market outcomes.
They provided evidence that WIL experiences lead to improved labour market outcomes for graduates, but that these benefits varied depending on the type of credential students pursued. Using the National Graduate Survey (NGS), they show that university graduates experienced significant earnings premiums after graduation compared to those who did not pursue WIL. College students, however, did not experience earnings premiums after graduation.
It could be hypothesized that university programs are generally less applied and occupationally focused than college programs, so the impact of WIL is more uniquely experienced in the university context. However, further research is needed to understand the reasons behind these nuances.
This work further confirms WIL’s impact on new graduates and highlights the need for more administrative data to fully understand these observations. This includes CEWIL definitions of WIL in federal surveys to align more closely with how CEWIL member PSIs define WIL and allow for more linkages with T1FF tax files to assess labour market outcomes.
To that end, CEWIL has made significant efforts to develop centralized pan-Canadian sources of WIL related data. This data effort aims to collect WIL information from PSIs across Canada, some of which can be accessed on their interactive iHub Dashboard. In a session led by the University of Waterloo’s Joanna Wajda, and showcased some of the findings of the annual data report by Dave Drewery, they demonstrated the value of having a centralized source of data for evaluation, trend analyses, and identification of best practices in WIL. Key to this is the uptake by institutions to submit data to CEWIL, and the adoption of consistent and standardized approaches to data collection.
Highlights from the booth
Attending the CEWIL 2025 Conference in Hamilton left us with one clear takeaway: the importance of connection.
What we expected to be a simple booth setup quickly turned into something much more meaningful. Right from the start, people stopped by—not just to learn about LMIC, but also to chat, ask questions, and share their own stories. And honestly, those conversations were the highlight of the experience.
From career guidance professionals to educational decision makers, we connected with attendees working across the WIL landscape. Many shared how complex it is for Canadians to choose which WIL opportunities to pursue and how they help guide those decisions.
The booth was busy, but never rushed. From LMIC-branded lanyards, bracelets, and socks to candy from a local small business in Ottawa, conference attendees remained engaged as they explored and discussed LMIC resources. But what really stood out were the thoughtful, unhurried conversations we had with people directly supporting learners in their WIL journeys.
For many attendees, this was their first introduction to LMIC. It gave us a chance to showcase tools like our Canadian Job Trends Dashboard and the Future of Work Annotated Bibliography. These products sparked genuine interest, especially among attendees who said they often struggle to find reliable labour market information (LMI) firsthand. Several mentioned that they lack access to critical LMI that they need to advise and guide the Canadians they work with accurately.
They shared the incredible work they’re doing, the challenges they face, and how they’re supporting students through the transition from school to work. These weren’t just quick introductions. We had the time to slow down, connect, and truly listen. Those conversations helped us see more clearly what people in the WIL space face every day.
Highlights from the booth
Attending the CEWIL 2025 Conference in Hamilton left us with one clear takeaway: the importance of connection.
What we expected to be a simple booth setup quickly turned into something much more meaningful. Right from the start, people stopped by—not just to learn about LMIC, but also to chat, ask questions, and share their own stories. And honestly, those conversations were the highlight of the experience.
From career guidance professionals to educational decision makers, we connected with attendees working across the WIL landscape. Many shared how complex it is for Canadians to choose which WIL opportunities to pursue and how they help guide those decisions.
The booth was busy, but never rushed. From LMIC-branded lanyards, bracelets, and socks to candy from a local small business in Ottawa, conference attendees remained engaged as they explored and discussed LMIC resources. But what really stood out were the thoughtful, unhurried conversations we had with people directly supporting learners in their WIL journeys.
For many attendees, this was their first introduction to LMIC. It gave us a chance to showcase tools like our Canadian Job Trends Dashboard and the Future of Work Annotated Bibliography. These products sparked genuine interest, especially among attendees who said they often struggle to find reliable labour market information (LMI) firsthand. Several mentioned that they lack access to critical LMI that they need to advise and guide the Canadians they work with accurately.
They shared the incredible work they’re doing, the challenges they face, and how they’re supporting students through the transition from school to work. These weren’t just quick introductions. We had the time to slow down, connect, and truly listen. Those conversations helped us see more clearly what people in the WIL space face every day.
How it all connects
What stood out to us wasn’t just that everyone at the conference uses labour market information—it was how naturally it’s embedded in their day-to-day work. Whether they’re shaping programs, supporting learners, or working with partners, LMI plays a foundational role in decision-making and impact.
These conversations helped us understand how LMI supports the work happening across the WIL community and gave us a chance to reflect on how LMIC can continue to remain relevant and responsive to the field’s evolving needs.
CEWIL 2025 reminded us that some of the most meaningful insights come not from what you present but from the people you meet along the way. We’re grateful for the conversations, the openness, and the opportunity to learn. We’re already looking forward to the next one.