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Securing a first job can be a daunting task, especially for young Canadians in recent times.
At a Calgary job fair targeting youth aged 15 to 24, recent graduate Jay-Owen Angeles expressed his challenges: “I’ve applied to over 100 companies without any interview offers.”
His younger brother, Ronin Angeles, a second-year student in computer science and biology, echoed similar struggles, stating, “It’s been tough, even with food service interviews, but no success at all.”
With a lack of experience, Ronin emphasized his willingness to take on any opportunity available.
Despite thousands of young individuals turning to job fairs to make an impression in person, the competition remains fierce, as witnessed by the over 5,000 attendees at a recent Calgary job fair.
Youth workers continue to bear a disproportionate impact from a declining job market, accounting for around half of all job losses in the initial three months of this year, despite comprising only 14 percent of the workforce. Certain sectors that typically employ youth have experienced weakened hiring demand, while a larger population post-pandemic means more job seekers in an uncertain economic climate.
“In an economic landscape where businesses are hesitant to hire, it is the youth who will face the brunt of the impact,” noted Charles St-Arnaud, the chief economist at Servus Credit Union.
Statistics Canada’s latest labor force survey revealed that the unemployment rate for Canadians aged 15 to 24 stood at 13.8 percent in March, compared to the overall rate of 6.7 percent.
While there was a slight decrease from a peak of 14.6 percent in September 2025, the rate remained almost unchanged from 13.9 percent in March of the previous year.
During the first quarter of 2026, the economy shed approximately 95,000 jobs, with young workers representing 53 percent of those losses despite constituting only 14 percent of the labor force.
St-Arnaud attributed this uncertainty to higher energy costs, U.S. trade tensions, and the emergence of artificial intelligence, leading to a cautious approach by employers in recruitment.
Aside from the pandemic, Canadian job seekers aged 15 to 24 continue to grapple with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country’s history.
A surge in the country’s population, primarily fueled by increased immigration, particularly among teenagers and young adults, has impacted the job market. Sectors such as retail, accommodation, food service, and manufacturing have been hiring fewer young people in recent years.
With entry-level positions becoming increasingly challenging to secure, experts warn of a shift where these roles are being taken up by individuals seeking second jobs later in their careers.
Economists caution that the repercussions of these trends could have lasting effects, as seen in the decline in summer job postings by 11 percent at the end of March compared to the previous year, partially due to a decrease in camp-related roles.
The federal government plans to launch the summer jobs program nationwide to assist young individuals in gaining experience and building skills for future careers. The program is expected to offer up to 100,000 positions, an increase from about 75,000 in 2025.
Employers are provided with wage subsidies under this program to create job opportunities for individuals aged 15 to 30 across various sectors.
In the face of a challenging job market, maintaining a positive outlook is advised by recruitment manager Cristina Schultz, who emphasized persistence and the importance of showcasing one’s best efforts.