What Ontario’s Student Data Says and What Comes Next

This research matters now more than ever. With major immigration changes rolling out, including study permit caps and new PGWP rules – understanding how students succeeded in the past helps explain why federal policy is changing today. 

In this article, we’ll walk through what the data says, how things compare to before, and what it means for anyone studying in Canada or planning their education pathway. 

Key Takeaways 

• Most graduates worked in Canada soon after finishing – nearly 80% filed taxes in year one.

• Earnings were highest for graduate and bachelor’s degree holders; lowest for certificate and diploma grads.

• STEM and health students earned more and were more likely to stay employed in Canada.

• Over half of students who stayed in Canada became permanent residents within eight years.

• Graduate and bachelor’s students had the strongest long-term PR outcomes.

• Arts and humanities graduates saw the lowest earnings and PR transition rates.

• Public institutions and PGWP-eligible programs produced the most successful outcomes. 

What the Data Shows 

The data covering 2010 to 2020 makes one thing clear, that most international students in Ontario moved quickly into the Canadian labour market after graduating. Nearly 80% filed a tax return within a year, reflecting strong access to PGWPs during this period. By year five, that number dipped slightly to 72%, likely because some graduates left Canada. 

Other key takeaways: Students who worked during their studies had an easier time moving into full-time roles, helped in part by rising co-op participation. Overall, earnings varied widely depending on credential level. Certificate and diploma graduates earned the least, bachelor’s graduates earned roughly double, and graduate degree holders earned the most over time. 

Field of study played a major role too. Engineering, computer science, and health graduates consistently earned more and were more likely to be working in Canada, while arts and humanities graduates saw lower earnings and labour market attachment. 

These patterns carried over into immigration. About 21% of students became permanent residents within four years of receiving their first study permit, and more than half transitioned by year eight. While certificate and diploma graduates transitioned earlier because they entered the workforce sooner, bachelor’s and graduate students had stronger long-term PR outcomes – largely because Canada’s points system rewards higher-level credentials. Students from health, engineering, and tech programs were again the most likely to become permanent residents. 

How This Compares to Before 

Between 2010 and 2016, studying in Ontario provided a relatively predictable path to work and, for many, permanent residency. The system was large, but manageable, and PGWP rules were clear and accessible. 

But growth accelerated, especially in private institutions and many students entered programs that didn’t lead to PGWP eligibility. At the same time, concerns around housing, affordability, and program quality intensified. These pressures highlighted gaps between student pathways and the realities of the labour and immigration systems. 

Today, Canada is recalibrating. Policy changes introduced that aim to realign international education with pathways that produce strong labour and immigration outcomes. Public institutions, PGWP-eligible programs, and fields with strong job demand remain at the centre of these changes. 

Why Some Students Succeed More Than Others 

A few key factors explain the gaps in labour and immigration outcomes seen across programs and credentials. 

PGWP eligibility played the biggest role. 

Public institutions overwhelmingly offered PGWP-eligible programs, while many private institutions did not. This shaped how easily students could gain Canadian work experience, one of the strongest predictors of PR success. 

STEM and health fields aligned with real labour shortages. 

Graduates from engineering, health, and tech programs entered sectors with high demand and higher wages, improving both employment outcomes and PR opportunities. 

Program length affected skill development and work experience. 

Shorter programs, especially those without PGWP eligibility, gave students less time to build Canadian experience. Putting them at a disadvantage in Canada’s points-based immigration system. 

Some graduates simply left Canada. 

Not all students intended to stay long-term. Many returned home for personal, financial, or career reasons, which naturally reduced tax-filing rates and PR transition numbers in later years. 

If you’re planning to study in Canada, the data makes it clear that your choice of institution and program matters more than ever. Public colleges and universities consistently led to stronger earnings and higher PR success, while short or non-PGWP-eligible programs – especially in the private sector offered far fewer long-term opportunities. 

Your field of study also plays a major role. Graduates in engineering, tech, and health fields had the strongest job and PR outcomes, and these continue to be areas where Canada needs workers. Getting Canadian work experience early, through co-ops or part-time jobs, remains one of the best ways to strengthen your PR prospects. 

But the most important shift is what’s happening now. With Canada’s new study-permit caps and provincial allocations, fewer students will enter the system and fewer will have access to the PGWPs and work pathways that boosted earlier cohorts. This means future data will likely show lower employment and PR transition rates for new students. 

In short the system is tightening. Making strategic choices about where and what you study is now essential for anyone hoping to work or settle in Canada after graduation.