AI, Jobs & Skills, Student Success, Talent Development, Technology, The Economy
TORONTO, June 18, 2026 – “New analysis commissioned by the Council of Ontario Universities and conducted by Stokes Economics projects that more than one million (1,004,864) new university-educated workers will be needed in Ontario between 2026 and 2035. The projected demand reflects job openings in occupations where a university education is typically required or preferred and underscores the growing need for highly skilled talent across the province’s economy.
The forecast is driven by a combination of economic growth and workforce replacement, as large numbers of experienced workers retire or leave the labour force. On average, Ontario is expected to require approximately 100,500 university-educated workers each year on average over the next decade to meet labour market needs.
A wide range of Ontario’s critical sectors will require a steady pipeline of university graduates. Occupations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are projected to account for the largest share of demand, with nearly 213,000 workers needed by 2035. Health-related occupations will need almost 149,000 workers to support health care needs and business, finance and administration roles are expected to require more than 195,000 workers across the province.
The projected net demand for university-educated workers in Ontario from 2026 to 2035 includes:
| Job Category | Average Annual Demand | Total Demand 2026–35 | % Share |
| STEM: Natural and Applied Sciences and Related Occupations | 21,298 | 212,980 | 21.2 |
| Health Sciences (Physicians, Nurses, Other Health Professions) | 14,900 | 148,999 | 14.8 |
| Business, Finance, and Administration | 19,532 | 195,316 | 19.4 |
| Education, Law and Social, Community and Public Services | 16,338 | 163,377 | 16.3 |
| Legislative and Senior Management | 6,103 | 61,025 | 6.1 |
| Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport | 2,421 | 24,213 | 2.4 |
| Other Management Occupations | 7,205 | 72,045 | 7.2 |
| Other Occupations | 12,691 | 126,909 | 12.6 |
| Total Demand | 100,488 | 1,004,864 | 100 |
Ontario’s universities are preparing the talent that will power our economy and the industries of the future. From health care and advanced manufacturing to artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, clean energy and critical minerals, universities are equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to meet Ontario’s evolving workforce needs and support long-term economic growth.
These projections demonstrate why, as demand for highly educated talent continues to grow across sectors, ensuring students have access to a high-quality university education will be essential to supporting Ontario’s economic competitiveness and ability to meet the needs of emerging industries.
The findings reinforce the increasingly important role universities play in developing the talent that drives innovation, strengthens communities and supports economic growth. With demand for more than one million university-educated workers over the next decade, Ontario’s ability to remain competitive, attract investment and drive innovation will depend on a strong and sustainable university sector that can expand opportunities for students and deliver the highly skilled graduates the province’s economy will need.”
– Steve Orsini, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities
Click the report below to read:
Ontario’s future depends on highly skilled talent. Read Building Ontario’s Future: One Million University Graduates Needed to Drive Innovation and Growth – Highlights of the 2026 Stokes Economics Report on Labour Market Demand (2026-2035) – which projects that the province will need more than one million new university-educated workers over the next decade.