Avid interest reflects high youth unemployment in Canada
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is expecting a record turnout at its annual job fair on Wednesday, as youth unemployment rates reach their highest levels in decades.
More than 54,000 online applications have already been submitted for over 5,000 seasonal positions at Canada’s largest fair, according to a report from City News.
Available jobs include:
- short order cooks
- dishwashers
- food prep
- front line service
- retail associates
- games attendants
- cashiers
Jobs are open to people aged 14 and older seeking summer employment, with many employers hiring on the spot.
The CNE will open to the public on Aug. 15 and will run until Sept. 1.
“Only registered participants will be able to attend the job fair. Unregistered attendees will not be permitted access into the Job Fair,” said the CNE. “Tickets must be shown at the door. Spaces are limited, so please make sure to secure your spot as soon as possible when registration becomes available.”
In 2024, more than 37,000 candidates registered for the fair's annual hiring ahead of the fair itself, marking the most submissions in the CNE's history, according to a report from blogTO.
Joblessness among Canadian youth
Earlier this year, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) urged governments to enhance efforts to ensure Canadian youth are job-ready when they enter the workforce.
Data from Statistics Canada (StatCan) note that unemployment among 14- to 24-year-olds is hovering around 14%, while nearly one in four teenagers in Ontario is out of work — the highest levels in decades.
Specifically, it stood at:
| January 2025 | 6.6 |
|---|---|
| February 2025 | 6.6 |
| March 2025 | 6.7 |
| April 2025 | 6.9 |
| May 2025 | 7.0 |
| June 2025 | 6.9 |
Canada’s failure to address its youth unemployment crisis will cost the country $18.5 billion in GDP by 2034, find Kings’ Trust Canada and Deloitte.
Overall, teenagers aged 15 to 19 now face an average job search duration of 15 weeks, nearly double the eight weeks recorded in 2019 — a 90 per cent increase. For those aged 20 to 24, the average search has lengthened from 10 to 17 weeks. Among the 25 to 29 age group, job searches now average five months, compared to 14 weeks in 2019.
“Extended unemployment periods carry consequences that reach far beyond economic hardship,” said researcher Carolina Aragão, who notes that policy-makers and political discourse have “largely overlooked” the issue. “Young people experiencing prolonged joblessness often face mental health challenges, delayed financial independence, and difficulty establishing career trajectories. These critically missed opportunities also have repercussions for their professional networks and workplace skills.”
Hiring plans among SMEs aren’t looking strong. While summer usually brings a hiring boost, more small businesses are thinking about layoffs (16% in July, up from 13% in June), according to CFIB.
