Over 1,000 Applicants for 6 Summer Jobs: Canada Has a Youth Employment Crisis

At Egale Canada, we recently posted six Canada Summer Jobs roles across HR, Research, Learning, Project Management, and Finance.

More than 1,000 applicants applied.

That isn’t a “great posting” success story. It’s a warning sign about how few doors are open to young people right now.

We have a youth employment crisis in Canada and employers cannot sit this one out.

The Numbers Are Clear

Recent data from Statistics Canada and other reports show:

• Youth unemployment (ages 15–24) has been stuck in the mid-teens, far above the overall unemployment rate in the mid‑6% range.

• Summer unemployment for students is at its highest levels since the late 2000s (outside the pandemic).

• Temporary and seasonal roles, the classic student “foot in the door", have declined, even as the youth population has grown.

More students. Fewer opportunities. Tougher odds for every single role.

We tell young people to “get experience” and “build a network,” while quietly reducing the very opportunities that allow them to do that.

Now Is the Worst Time to Pull Back

When the economy tightens, student roles are often the first line item cut:

• Co-ops and internships are paused.

• Summer roles are reduced or cancelled.

• Early talent programs get delayed “until things improve.”

On a spreadsheet, this can look like a quick win. In reality, it:

• Weakens the future talent pipeline.

• Deepens inequity, as only the most connected students find a way in.

• Sends a message that their future is negotiable.

This is not the moment to withdraw from student hiring. It’s the moment to rethink and expand it.

What Employers Can Do – At Any Size

You don’t need a big budget or a formal campus team to make a real difference. Consider:

1. Micro-internships and project sprints

Offer short (4–8 week), part-time roles tied to specific projects – research, data cleanup, content, process mapping, basic AI exploration. They’re lower cost and highly impactful.

2. Split one role into two

Turn a single full-time summer position into two part-time roles so two students gain experience, not one.

3. Partner with schools and non-profits

Work with colleges, universities, and community organizations to co-design placements and tap into funding (e.g., Canada Summer Jobs, co-op wage subsidies).

4. Design structured, skills-based volunteering

If you truly can’t pay, be transparent – and ensure roles have clear learning outcomes, feedback, and tangible deliverables students can talk about in future interviews.

5. Offer scalable learning experiences

Host virtual career talks, Q&As, office hours, or portfolio reviews. These are low cost and can reach many students at once while giving them real insight into your industry.

A Simple Challenge to Employers

If you influence hiring, here’s a concrete ask:

• Count how many student or early-talent roles you offered last year.

• Commit to at least one more this year, even if it’s part-time, project-based, or shared.

If every organization in Canada created just one additional meaningful student opportunity, the impact on this generation would be enormous.

To Students

If you’re one of hundreds of applicants for a handful of roles, this is not a reflection of your worth. It’s a reflection of a system that hasn’t created enough space for you.

You deserve more than a lottery for your first real work experience.

We can choose to change this.

This is not the time to turn our backs on students. It’s the time to get creative and intentional about opening doors.

Tomorrow’s leaders are already here. Our responsibility now is to make room for them.