Majority expect to work through the school year and most will invest what they earn
Two thirds of Canadian post-secondary students, or 66 percent, are pursuing learning or skills development outside their formal education.
A CIBC poll released on August 24 found 30 percent of those students are taking online courses and 30 percent are working on side projects.
Twenty percent are pursuing professional certifications and 16 percent are taking AI-related training.
Three quarters of respondents, 76 percent, said concerns about the job market are influencing the education and career decisions they are making now.
Improving earning potential was the top motivation for upskilling, cited by 46 percent, followed by enhancing job prospects at 43 percent.
Personal interest was cited by 40 percent.
Carissa Lucreziano, vice-president, financial planning and advice at CIBC, said students are pairing education and career preparation with financial wellbeing.
Alongside their studies, she said, they are looking for practical ways to build skills tied to career ambitions and long-term financial goals.
Sixty-six percent of students have a financial plan for the upcoming school year and the same share plan to invest at least some of their summer earnings.
Eighty percent expect to work during the academic year, while 57 percent are concerned about covering tuition and expenses.
Seventy-eight percent said they are optimistic about their personal financial future after graduation, and 78 percent said they are confident they are making the right financial decisions for their future today.
Lucreziano said the habits students are building can create a foundation for the move from school into careers.
She pointed to learning new skills, balancing work during the school year, and "investing some of their earnings toward their future."
