Student Work Placement (Co-op)
Matching Post-Secondary Students To The Right Employer
Post-Secondary Students are crucial for the Environmental Workforce to continue to grow into the future. ECO Canada’s Student Work Placement Program helps both students and employers find the right match and the support they need through wage assistance.
This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Employment and Social Development Program.
Program Status: Open For Students & Employers
Applications are now being accepted and reviewed for the April 1, 2024, start date. Matching will commence on April 15, 2024.
Funding Will Cover a 6 to 16 Week Full-time or Part Time Student Placements
About the Co-op Program
Working with institutions and employers across Canada to fund work placements for students to gain real-world experience in the environment while they are still in school.
We provide 50% of a wage up to a maximum of $5,000 to eligible employers who hire the brightest minds in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM) and Business.
How Does the Student Work Placement (Co-op) Program Work?
1. Apply Online
Fill out our online application.
2. Get Approved
Students and employers will be informed by email once they are pre-qualified to participate in the program.
3. Recruitment
Students and Employers are required to find their own placement, ECO Canada can offer helpful resources such as the Job Board (where hosts can post a job and candidates can submit their resume).
4. Get Paid
Funding is secured once a match is confirmed between the employer and a pre-approved student and contracts have been signed and returned to us within 15 days of being issued.
5. Receive Funding
This program offers eligible employers 50% wage coverage up to $5,000 of a student’s salary for a placement in a new full or part time 6 to 16 week position with a minimum of 180 hours. Both the employer and candidate must fill out reports throughout the placement for the employer to receive the wage subsidy.
You'll Have 50% Of A Student's Wages Covered Up To $5,000
Breakdown for Students
- There are no age restriction for applicants.
- Funding is focused around the STEAM & Business fields.
- Placement must align or be of benefit to the student’s Post Secondary Education.
- Applicants must be current Canadian post-secondary students.
- This program is open to students who hold Canadian citizenship, Canadian permanent residency status, or Canadian refugee status.
Breakdown for Employers
- Receive 50% up to $5,000 in funding towards a student's salary.
- The program is open to businesses of all sizes.
- Host employers must be a Canadian-owned or Canadian subsidiary (excludes municipalities, governments & post-secondary institutions).
- Funding will cover full-time or part-time placements as long as the term is 6 to 16 weeks long and the student reaches a minimum of 180 hours.
About ECO Canada
As the steward for the Canadian Environmental workforce across all industries, ECO Canada offers employment programs that stimulate environmental career pathways, skill development, business growth, workforce support and workforce advancement through wage and training funding.
To date, we have distributed over $176M in wage and training subsidies and helped to fill 16,775 job placements!
