February 5, 2026 – The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) recently announced 30 new partnerships with organizations across Canada under their Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program to support Canadian businesses in hiring post-secondary students. Amidst high unemployment and early-career instability for young people across Canada, the new partnerships deepen ICTC’s reach in supporting student placements; industry-informed training pathways and eLearning for digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills; and sharing regional labour-market intelligence to grow the workforce across Canada’s critical sectors.
These partnerships include agreements with major regional employers such as Aisha Comfortable Coliving, CGI, C-CORE, Cognizant, Genoa Design, PLATO Testing, SimplyCast, SEM, Solace, Elk Valley Resources, Optima Living, PCL Industrial Management and Melloy Industrial Services, and Teck Resources. Partnerships with academic and research institutions include the Applied AI Institute and the Institute for Coop Education at Concordia University, Vector Institute, and Mila. Partnerships with industry associations and innovation hubs include CMC Microsystems, COVE, the Co. Innovation Centre, DigiBC, and Life Sciences Nova Scotia. Partnerships with public and non-profit institutions include Ampere, Civiconnect, Développement économique de l’agglomération de Longueuil (DEL), Investissement Québec, Joint Economic Development Initiative, eCampus Ontario, One North End, and the Students on Ice Foundation.
“ICTC is proud to collaborate with 30 new partners to strengthen Canada’s digital economy and workforce,” said Namir Anani, President & CEO of ICTC. “Together, we are reducing barriers to entry, aligning skills development with real market demand, and delivering better outcomes for employers and job seekers, creating meaningful opportunities that prepare the next generation of Canadian leaders for long-term success. These partnerships will generate thousands of opportunities across critical sectors, supporting Canada’s competitiveness in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world, while reinforcing access to opportunities in both official languages.”
ICTC’s WIL Digital program helps employers grow their businesses by providing wage subsidies to hire post-secondary students in tech-related roles, enabling faster access to job-ready talent, reducing hiring risk, and supporting digital transformation initiatives that would otherwise be delayed or deprioritized. Results show that 70 per cent of students benefiting from WIL Digital secure full-time employment after graduation, and nearly one-third are hired by their WIL Digital employer. ICTC’s research also shows that students participating in WIL are more likely to find jobs related to their field of study, less likely to be overqualified for their roles, and less likely to experience labour market scarring, which describes the multi-year adverse effects on career progression, wages, and wellbeing from entering the workforce during economic downturn.
Employers can receive a wage subsidy of up to $7,000 of a student’s salary, with emphasis on providing opportunities for underrepresented students including women, Indigenous peoples, students with disabilities, and visible minority students. Students gain meaningful, paid work experience while both students and employers benefit from industry-informed training and eLearning designed to support continuous learning during their placements. Employers interested in hiring post-secondary students can learn more here.
ICTC’s WIL Digital program is funded by the Government of Canada's Student Work Placement Program (SWPP).
About ICTC
The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) is a neutral, not-for-profit national centre of expertise with the mission of strengthening Canada’s digital advantage in the global economy. For over 30 years, ICTC has delivered forward-looking research, practical policy advice, and capacity-building solutions for individuals and businesses. The organization’s goal is to ensure that technology is utilized to drive economic growth and innovation and that Canada’s workforce remains competitive on a global scale.
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