Canada’s youth job market continues to fall as StatsCan records lowest point in decades
Older workers are also competing for jobs that typically go to recent graduates
Youth employment continues to fall, according to Statistics Canada. Its most recent survey showed the rate of employment in youth aged 15 to 24 fell 0.7 percentage points to 53.6 per cent last month — the lowest since November 1998 (except for 2020 and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic was in full force).
The broader economy has weathered U.S. trade tensions relatively well, but uncertainty around President Donald Trump’s tariffs has made businesses reluctant to hire. That caution, combined with a surge in immigration, slowing growth and the rise of automation, has intensified competition for entry-level jobs.
Claire Fan, an economist at RBC, told Bloomberg News that companies remain hesitant to expand or bring on new workers because of ongoing uncertainty. The Bank of Canada is closely watching these developments as it weighs when to cut interest rates, with the national unemployment rate edging up to 6.9% from 6.6% earlier this year. Long-term joblessness is also at its highest in nearly three decades.
Graduates are feeling the strain. University of Alberta biochemistry graduate Sheena Ngigi, 24, has applied to dozens of positions without success and is now seeking receptionist and restaurant work. Fellow 24-year-old Mathias Ashaba, who immigrated from Uganda with a business degree, said he applied to more than 30 entry-level jobs before finally landing a janitorial role. Both describe the application process as demoralizing, with Ngigi noting that older workers are also competing for jobs that typically go to recent graduates, Bloomberg News reported Monday.
Nonprofit leaders warn that the trend could cause lasting harm. Tim Lang, CEO of Youth Employment Services in Toronto, said even engineering graduates are struggling to find work and that many young people have applied to hundreds of jobs without responses. Carrie Axten of Prospect Human Services in Alberta cautioned that delays in securing a first job can leave “career scars,” limiting opportunities down the line.
The effect extends beyond university graduates. Toronto high schooler Tara Alex-Hamah, 15, said she has submitted around 50 applications to stores, restaurants and even her local library without hearing back. Frustrated, she’s decided to put her focus back on school.
Sources
~WakenyaCanada
