The Future is Studying: Insights from Durham’s Student Workforce

Students Are the Future—and the Present

In the 2024 Durham Workforce Survey, 11% of respondents identified as students, a figure that aligns closely with Ontario’s student-to-population ratio of 10.2%. The majority—71%—were full-time students, while 29% studied part-time. These young adults are juggling academics, part-time jobs, and job searches in a highly competitive environment.

What Are They Studying?

Student respondents reported diverse academic interests, but five areas stood out:

  • Business, Management, and Public Administration – 24%
  • Education – 9%
  • Social and Behavioural Sciences and Law – 8%
  • Computer Science, Engineering, and Related Technologies – 8%
  • Health and Related Fields – 6%

These figures show that students are primarily pursuing studies in business and public service-oriented disciplines, with a strong interest also in STEM and healthcare, aligning with regional workforce needs. This suggests that many students are preparing for roles that could support local workforce needs if they remain in the region.

Working While Studying

Over 30% of students were already employed, primarily in sales and service roles, such as retail, food service, and customer support. This reflects common entry points for young workers but also raises concerns about underemployment. Students with business, science, and health qualifications may be working in jobs that don’t use their skills, potentially delaying meaningful career development.

Career Goals and Employment Preferences

Students were asked what matters most in a job. Their responses show clear differences between full- and part-time learners:

  • Full-time students prioritized work-life balance, likely due to time constraints from heavy course loads.
  • Part-time students, who may be balancing work and family, ranked competitive pay, professional development, and advancement opportunities highest.

Top reasons students are seeking different jobs:

  • Higher pay
  • Better hours
  • Career advancement
  • Professional development
  • A change in career direction

Job-Seeking Strategies

A large majority—82% of students—were actively looking for work, and 68.5% of those were seeking part-time employment. Their top job search methods included:

  • Job fairs (most popular)
  • Online job search engines
  • Social media
  • Government job banks
  • Friends and family networks

These results emphasize the importance of hybrid recruitment strategies that blend online presence with in-person engagement.

What This Means for Employers

Durham Region employers looking to attract and retain young talent should consider offering:

  • Part-time, flexible jobs with consistent scheduling
  • Mentorship and internship opportunities to build professional experience
  • Clear pathways to advancement, even in entry-level roles
  • Inclusion in skill-building opportunities like certification or hands-on training

Durham students are engaged, educated, and eager to enter the workforce. They are looking for work now—and for careers that match their education. Creating better entry points and student development opportunities could be key to retaining top talent in the region.

About the DWA:

The DWA creates an annual plan supplying helpful information for community planning. The DWA hosts Jobs First Durham (JFD) a boutique job board with hyper-local information.

The DWA provides just-in-time custom labour market information and often conducts custom fee-for-service research. If you are interested in local data, please don’t hesitate to contact the DWA.

The Province of Ontario partially funds the DWA to supply Labour Market Information (LMI) to the Region of Durham.