Why Canada's Youth Job Crisis Is Worse Than You Think: 200+ Applications and No Job

Hundreds of young job seekers gathered at a recent Calgary job fair, hoping face-to-face conversations with employers might lead to work in an increasingly competitive labour market. Among them was 20-year-old Angelica Vidal, who has applied for more than 200 jobs over the past year without success.

"It’s been hard," Vidal said. "I’m just hoping maybe one or two will interview me and give me a chance."

Vidal applies for jobs almost every day using online platforms like LinkedIn and Glassdoor, but continues to face rejection, even for positions advertised as entry level. "It’s bleak," she admitted.

Job Search Taking Longer: Expert Insights

The Immigrant Education Society (TIES), which hosted the event, reports it's taking significantly longer for people to find work than just a few years ago. What once took clients about two months to secure employment has now tripled in duration.

"We don’t see that it’s getting better," said Mayssoun Hniedi, manager of employment and career development programs at TIES. "I can see that it might take a while before things kind of stabilize."

Hniedi notes the slowdown affects not only experienced workers but also entry-level roles that young people typically rely on to gain experience. She suggests employers could create more pathways for struggling youth, such as mentoring or unpaid work experience opportunities.

Vidal expressed frustration with employers expecting years of experience for basic jobs: "Every other job is saying you need this many years of experience or you need to have that level of experience. But we’re not getting accepted at these very entry-level jobs. Where are we supposed to get this experience?"

Youth Unemployment Statistics

According to Statistics Canada, youth unemployment (ages 15-24) decreased to 12.8% in January 2026, though this remains double the national average. Experts consider this elevated given the challenges young people face securing stable, full-time work.

"The unemployment rate for youth is double the national average. And it’s even harder for racialized youth," Hniedi emphasized.

Economists explain that young workers face heightened competition as hiring slows and displaced or underemployed workers move into roles traditionally filled by younger employees.

"It’s not that youth are just competing against themselves," said Moshe Lander, an economist at Concordia University. "They’re also competing with low-skilled people who are having a hard time finding jobs and having to move down into jobs that would normally be taken up by teenagers or young people."

Despite the challenges, Vidal remains hopeful that meeting employers in person will eventually lead to an opportunity.