Most student jobs in Canada don't come from one big job board. They come through a few separate channels: federal programs, provincial summer programs, school co-op systems, and a short list of employers who hire students every year. If you know which channel fits the job you want, and when it opens, you can stop sending applications into the void.
Quick takeaways
- Federal student jobs mostly go through one application: the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) on GC Jobs.
- Canada Summer Jobs pays employers to hire people aged 15 to 30, and those jobs are posted on Job Bank.
- In Ontario, the general minimum wage went up to $17.95 an hour on October 1, 2026. The student rate, which only covers students under 18 working 28 hours a week or less, is now $16.90.
- Under IRCC rules, international students can usually work up to 24 hours a week off campus while classes are in session.
- Co-op jobs at schools like the University of Waterloo and the University of Victoria are posted on the school's own portal. Most of them never show up on public boards.
The Four Kinds of Student Jobs and When Each One Hires
Each type of student job has its own hiring calendar. If you miss the window, you can lose a whole season.
Co-op work terms
Co-op terms are paid, full-time placements that alternate with study terms, and your school arranges them. At the University of Waterloo, work terms usually run four months, and students apply through WaterlooWorks, where employers post jobs and book interviews. The University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University and the Universite de Sherbrooke in Quebec run large co-op programs that work the same way. So do colleges like Conestoga, Humber and BCIT. Hiring for a work term usually starts the term before. That means you apply for a summer placement in January or February.
Summer jobs
The big public sector summer programs hire in winter. Ontario's Summer Employment Opportunities program and many municipal recreation departments post between January and March. Tourism, landscaping and retail employers often keep hiring through April and May. Some summer jobs need a certificate before you can apply, so plan ahead (see the employer section below).
Internships
Internships are project-based jobs that usually run a few months. They are common in tech, marketing, communications and non-profit work. Larger employers usually open applications in the fall for the following summer. Banks and tech companies often run structured internship programs, and many of them hire interns back as new graduates.
Part-time jobs during the school year
These are the jobs you fit around your timetable: retail, food service, grocery, campus jobs like library or residence assistant, and tutoring. Hiring goes on all year, with spikes in late August and before the holiday season. When you apply, list the exact days and hours you can work. A manager who is building a shift schedule will call the candidate whose availability is clear.
What Student Jobs Pay
Pay depends on the province, the job type and sometimes your age. Here are the figures you can check yourself.
Ontario minimum wages as of October 2026
The Government of Ontario raised the general minimum wage from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour on October 1, 2026. The student minimum wage rose from $16.60 to $16.90 on the same day. The student rate only applies to students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less during the school year, or who work during a school break or summer holidays. If you are 18 or older, you get the general rate, even if you are a student.
Other provinces
Each province sets its own minimum wage and changes it on its own schedule, often in April, May, June or October. Before you accept an offer, look up the current rate on your provincial employment standards website. Some provinces set a separate rate for younger students, and others don't.
Co-op and federal student pay
Co-op jobs usually pay above minimum wage, and the amount depends on your program and how many terms you have completed. The University of Waterloo publishes co-op earnings data by program and term on its co-op website. It is a good benchmark to use before you negotiate or compare offers. Federal student jobs filled through FSWEP pay according to the Government of Canada's published student rates of pay. Those rates go up with your education level and the years of study you have finished.
Federal Routes: FSWEP and Other Government of Canada Programs
How FSWEP works
FSWEP is the main way students get hired into federal departments and agencies, such as the Canada Revenue Agency, Parks Canada and the National Research Council. You make one account and submit one application on the GC Jobs site. Your application goes into an inventory, and hiring managers search it by education, field of study, skills, language and location. You don't apply to individual postings. Managers find you.
Who is eligible
You generally need to be a full-time student at a recognized secondary school, CEGEP, college, technical institute or university, and you need to be returning to full-time studies the next academic year. There are also minimum age rules, which vary by province. Eligibility details change, so read the current FSWEP page on canada.ca before you apply.
How to fill out your FSWEP profile
- Fill in every optional skills question. Managers filter on them, so a blank answer can drop you from a search.
- Select every city where you would actually take a job. A lot of jobs are in the National Capital Region, so think about adding Ottawa-Gatineau.
- If you can work in French, say so. Many federal jobs need bilingual staff.
- Your application stays active for a set period. Put a reminder in your calendar to update it each academic year.
Research Affiliate Program and Canada Summer Jobs
The Research Affiliate Program hires post-secondary students for research work in federal organizations, and you apply on GC Jobs too. Canada Summer Jobs works differently. Employment and Social Development Canada funds employers to create summer jobs for young people aged 15 to 30, and the employers post those jobs on Job Bank. You can search Job Bank today for jobs marked Canada Summer Jobs in your area.
Provincial and School Routes
Ontario Summer Employment Opportunities
The Ontario Public Service hires students every summer through its Summer Employment Opportunities program, with jobs in ministries and agencies across the province. Jobs are posted on the Ontario Public Service careers site. You generally have to be a student returning to school in the fall. Check the posting each winter for the current eligibility rules and closing dates.
Your school's co-op and career office
If you're in a co-op program, your school's portal is your main job source. Waterloo uses WaterlooWorks, and other schools have their own systems. Students who aren't in co-op can still use career centres for resume reviews, mock interviews and on-campus job listings. CEWIL Canada, the national association for co-op and work-integrated learning, keeps information on accredited co-op programs if you are still choosing a school.
Employers That Regularly Hire Students
This isn't a complete list. These are employers with established student hiring channels that you can look into today.
Municipal and public sector
The City of Toronto and most large municipalities hire students each summer as camp counsellors, lifeguards, swim instructors and parks staff. Many of these jobs need certificates you have to earn before you apply. Lifeguarding requires the Lifesaving Society's National Lifeguard certification. Camp jobs often ask for Standard First Aid with CPR, and some ask for HIGH FIVE training. These courses fill up in winter, so sign up early. Federal employers like the Canada Revenue Agency and Parks Canada hire mostly through FSWEP.
Utilities, banks and tech
Ontario Power Generation and Hydro One run regular co-op and student programs in engineering, IT and business. The big Canadian banks, including RBC, TD and Scotiabank, recruit interns and co-op students every year through their careers sites, often starting in the fall. In tech, Shopify and many smaller companies hire interns, with the most hiring in Waterloo Region, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver.
Retail and food service
National chains such as Canadian Tire, Loblaw-owned grocery stores and Tim Hortons franchises hire part-time students all year. Hiring decisions are usually made at the store, so applying in person or calling the store manager after an online application can make a difference.
International Students: Work Hour Rules
This is a summary of IRCC's published rules, not legal advice. Your own study permit conditions are what count.
During classes
Eligible international students at designated learning institutions can generally work up to 24 hours a week off campus while classes are in session. IRCC made this limit permanent in November 2024. Students in ESL or FSL programs, and in some preparatory programs, are not eligible to work off campus.
During scheduled breaks and co-op
During scheduled breaks, like the summer or winter break on your school's academic calendar, eligible students can work more hours. IRCC has published conditions on what counts as a break. Co-op terms that are a required part of your program usually need a separate co-op work permit. Check IRCC's off-campus work page, and talk to your school's international student office before you accept a job.
How YouthAtWork.ca Fits In
YouthAtWork.ca is a Canada-focused job board for first jobs and early-career roles. It works alongside the government and school channels above. It doesn't replace them.
For students
Use YouthAtWork.ca to find student-eligible postings from private employers that FSWEP and your co-op portal won't show you. Search for co-op, summer, internship or part-time, and filter by city. In your profile on YouthAtWork.ca for job seekers, include your program, graduation year, term availability, languages and any certificates like National Lifeguard or First Aid.
For employers
If you hire post-secondary students for work-integrated learning, the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) can cover part of their wages. SWPP is delivered through sector partners such as BioTalent Canada, ECO Canada, ICTC and Magnet. Program terms change, so confirm current amounts with the partner for your sector. Postings that get the most student applications list the term dates, weekly hours, pay, supervisor and any SWPP or Canada Summer Jobs funding. Once your role is ready, post it on YouthAtWork.ca for employers.
FAQ
When do student summer jobs open in Canada?
The big programs open in winter. FSWEP accepts applications all year, but most hiring happens in spring. Ontario Summer Employment Opportunities and municipal recreation jobs usually post between January and March. Private employers keep hiring into May.
What is the student minimum wage in Ontario?
It has been $16.90 an hour since October 1, 2026. It only applies to students under 18 working 28 hours a week or less during the school year, or working during breaks. Everyone else gets the general rate of $17.95.
How many hours can international students work in Canada?
Under IRCC rules, eligible students can generally work up to 24 hours a week off campus during classes, and more during scheduled breaks. Check your study permit conditions and IRCC's current guidance before you accept a job.
Do I need experience for a first co-op job?
No. Employers hiring first-term co-op students look at your courses, projects, volunteer work and clubs. A clear one-page resume that matches the posting matters more than past job titles.
How do employers find co-op students?
Register with the co-op offices at the schools you want to hire from, like WaterlooWorks at Waterloo. Check whether an SWPP partner covers your sector, and post on student-focused boards like YouthAtWork.ca.
Your Next Step
Student jobs in Canada go to the people who apply early. Make your GC Jobs account, check Job Bank for Canada Summer Jobs postings, and book any certificate courses before winter is over. Whether you are hiring or job hunting, YouthAtWork.ca serves both sides of the market. Employers can review pricing and post a role at YouthAtWork.ca for employers. Job seekers can browse openings and create a profile at YouthAtWork.ca for job seekers.