Youth unemployment in Canada may be on the rise, but students coming out of co-op programs at Brandon University are bucking the trend and setting records in the opposite direction.
According to a release from BU, this year’s cohort of co-op program graduates is the largest in their program’s history. This year, 57 students participated in BU Co-op, the largest cohort since the program’s start and more than a third larger than last year. Nearly all (95 per cent) have already secured a work term placement for the summer term.
“Students are facing a difficult labour market, but our students continue to demonstrate that they are ready to contribute, adapt, and succeed,” said BU Co-op Director Cora Dupuis. “The strength of these results reflects the talent and determination of BU students, paired with the incredible support of employers who are ready to invest in the next generation.”
According to the university, this year’s cohort includes 37 students who are participating in BU Co-op for the first time and 20 students who are returning for their second or third work term. They also said these students have found placements with a employers ranging through private, public, and non-profit organizations, in sectors like research, health-care, technology, and finance. While many are located in Brandon, others have found work throughout Manitoba and elsewhere.
