Youth Unemployment in Canada Reaches 14.5%, Highest Rate Since 2010

Canada’s youth unemployment rate has surged to 14.5% as of August, marking the highest level in over a decade and raising concerns about the economic future of a generation.

Recent graduates are reporting sending out hundreds, even thousands, of job applications with limited success. Sami Rasheed, a University of Toronto business graduate, shared with reporters that he applied to over 1,100 jobs and received only a dozen responses. “I spent a lot of mornings just dreading getting up and putting in another eight hours applying to jobs,” Rasheed said. This struggle comes as fewer new jobs are being created, impacting entry-level opportunities.

Economics professor Mikal Skuterud of the University of Waterloo emphasized that young people are not to blame, stating, “Young people are not lazy. They are as ambitious and hardworking as any generation has ever been.” He attributes the issue to a decline in job vacancies, falling from one million in 2022 to below half a million currently, coupled with economic uncertainties like trade fluctuations. The current rate of youth unemployment could have long-term consequences for earning potential and career trajectories.

Experts advise young job seekers to focus on developing specialized skills to stand out in a competitive market. Gaby Kurta, a recent legal assistant diploma graduate, encourages persistence, saying, “It’s hard to hear that because, of course, all of us are putting in as much effort as we can to get these jobs.” For more information on the Canadian labour market, see Statistics Canada’s latest report.

Officials remain optimistic that the situation will improve, citing historical precedents, and are encouraging continued efforts to address the challenges facing young Canadians entering the workforce.