WILWorks program — Student Work Placement Program

For Canadian manufacturers looking to bring fresh talent into their operations without taking on the full cost of hiring, the WILWorks program under the Student Work Placement Program offers a practical incentive. Delivered nationally by the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium, this initiative helps manufacturers offset wages when they create meaningful work-integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students. It’s designed to make internships, co-op terms, mentorship roles, and applied research placements more accessible for employers while giving students real-world manufacturing experience.

Through WILWorks, eligible manufacturers can receive a non-repayable wage subsidy of up to about $7,000 per student placement. The focus is on “net new” roles, encouraging companies to offer student positions they might not otherwise add. These placements can be tailored to business needs, whether that’s supporting continuous improvement projects, tackling specific operational challenges, or building a future talent pipeline within production, engineering, or operations teams. Both small and medium-sized manufacturers and larger enterprises can benefit, particularly those planning ahead for skills development and workforce renewal.

Funding is offered on an ongoing, term-based basis, though availability can be limited due to high demand. For manufacturers interested in understanding how the program works, what qualifies as an eligible placement, and how to prepare a strong application, taking a closer look at the full program details can help determine if WILWorks is the right fit for your hiring plans.