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Landing a first job can be challenging at the best of times, but in recent years, the search has become even more daunting for young Canadians.
“I’ve applied for over 100 companies and so far I haven’t found any even for an interview,” said recent graduate Jay-Owen Angeles at a Calgary job fair aimed at youth ages 15 to 24.
His younger brother Ronin Angeles, a second-year computer science and biology major, said he has also struggled.
“It’s been rough, even with food service interviews, but no success at all,” he said.
“I haven’t had any experience so far, so anything that’s willing to take me in, I’m more than happy to.”
Thousands of young people are turning to job fairs to try and stand out in person, but the competition remains intense. More than 5,000 attended a recent job fair in Calgary.
Young workers continue to be disproportionately affected by a weakening job market, making up about half of all job losses in the first three months of this year, despite representing just 14 per cent of the labour force. Hiring demand in certain sectors that typically employ them has weakened, while a growing population since the pandemic means there are more job-hunters in an uncertain economic environment.
“In the economic context where businesses are less willing to hire, it will be the youth that is going to take the brunt of it,” said Charles St-Arnaud, chief economist of the Servus Credit Union.
“That will probably continue in the next year.”
Young workers taking the brunt
According to Statistics Canada’s most recent labour force survey, the unemployment rate for Canadians aged 15 to 24 was 13.8 per cent in March, compared with 6.7 per cent overall.
While that is down from a recent high of 14.6 per cent in September 2025, it is virtually unchanged from 13.9 per cent in March last year.
In the first three months of 2026, the economy lost roughly 95,000 jobs. Young workers accounted for 53 per cent of those losses, despite representing only 14 per cent of the labour force.
Canadians between 15 and 24 are struggling to find work. One young job seeker said they applied to 100 companies without getting an interview.
St-Arnaud said the uncertainty is tied to higher energy prices, U.S. trade tensions and the rise of artificial intelligence, making employers more cautious in hiring.
“That means summer jobs, summer interns, co-op students are probably less of a priority or not being hired this year as they used to be in the past,” he said.
The kids aren’t all right
Apart from the pandemic, Canadian job-seekers between the ages of 15 and 24 continue to face among the highest unemployment rate this country has ever seen.
In recent years, the country’s population has grown sharply, largely due to increased immigration. That increase was seen particularly in teenagers and young adults. Between 2022 and 2024, the population aged 15 to 24 increased by about 10 per cent compared to overall population growth of six per cent.
Federal changes to immigration policy last year have since stalled growth.
Sectors that typically take on young people, like retail, accommodation and food service, have been hiring less in recent years. The number of young people working in manufacturing jobs has also declined over the last few years, according to Statistics Canada.
Experts say entry-level positions that were once widely available are becoming harder to obtain.
“Many of those positions are actually being scooped up by people who are taking on second jobs who are maybe later in their career,” said Cristina Schultz, a recruitment manager at About Staffing. “The cost of living is really impacting their ability to make payments and pay their bills.”
She added that companies with leaner staffing are also asking existing employees to take on more responsibilities instead of hiring new workers.
Economists warn the effects could be long-lasting
According to Indeed, summer job postings in Canada were down 11 per cent the end of March compared with a year earlier, driven in part by fewer camp-related roles.
“Those first jobs, even if they aren’t career-track jobs, still impart valuable skills, whether it’s accountability [and] experience in a workplace dealing with co-workers,” said Brendon Bernard, Indeed’s senior economist. “It’s time missed.”
The federal government will soon roll out its summer jobs program across the country, which is aimed at helping young people gain experience and build skills for future careers.
Up to 100,000 positions are expected to be posted on the federal job bank web site starting April 20, an increase from about 75,000 in 2025.
Ottawa provides wage subsidies to employers to create jobs for people aged 15 to 30 in a variety of fields from health and education to not-for-profits.
For those confronting a challenging job market, Schultz recommends trying to keep a positive attitude.
“Just keep on keeping on ,” she said. “Keep putting yourself out there because it is going to be tough.
“But at the end of the day, as long as you’re putting your best foot forward, that’s all you can do.”
