‘These findings reinforce the importance of creating clear, practical pathways that connect people to real opportunities’
Employers who are banking on young people to fill their talent shortages may be disappointed, judging by a new survey.
Currently, seven in 10 Canadians including – 75% of those aged 25–34 – believe the country is still not doing enough to prepare young adults for work, reports the Meridian Credit Union.
One in six respondents believes young adults do not have the skills they need to succeed in the job market. Doubt was sharpest among younger workers, with 65% of respondents aged 18 to 24 and 52% of those aged 25 to 34 expressing concern about the effectiveness of current skills training programs.
"These findings reinforce the importance of creating clear, practical pathways that connect people to real opportunities. For many young people facing economic barriers, the challenge isn't motivation, it's access," says Sarah Saso, Vice President, ESG and Social Impact at Meridian Credit Union.
AI is not eliminating entry-level jobs – it is fundamentally changing what those jobs require, according to a previous report.
A model built around completion
The Meridian research points to completion in training as the key gap. While federal data shows only 34% of Canadians complete traditional skills retraining programs, Meridian reports that close to 90% of Reframe participants transition into employment, self-employment or further career training upon completion.
For employers, the contrast positions wrap-around supports as a retention tool rather than a cost, particularly for recruits facing the economic barriers the survey identifies.
HR professionals face continuing challenges in recruiting and developing young workers as Canada’s summer job market stabilizes in 2026 after three years of decline, according to a previous report from Indeed.
As the school year ends, labour force participation among Canadian youth jumps, Brendon Bernard, Senior Economist at Indeed, told HRD.
“How youth unemployment responds depends on the state of seasonal hiring appetite, and how well the skills and interest of these new job seekers line up with the available opportunities," he says.
“Amid the soft labour markets since 2023, the seasonal jump in youth employment rates has been somewhat subdued. That said, the summer job market is just one component of the youth employment situation, which has been weak year-round. Note also that these shifts in seasonal employment aren't captured in StatCan's headline Labour Force Survey numbers, which report the data on a seasonally adjusted basis.”
Graduates needed for labour shortages
In Ontario, the provincial government would need about one million university graduates by the year 2035 to fill labour shortages in the province, according to a previous report.
STEM occupations — natural and applied sciences and related work — account for the largest share at 212,980 openings, or 21.2% of the total, followed by business, finance and administration at 195,316 (19.4%) and education, law and social, community and public services at 163,377 (16.3%), noted the Stokes Economics for the Council of Ontario Universities.
“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,” says Steve Orsini, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, in a statement.
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.”
