Good news for young Canadians looking for a summer job.
Canada Summer Jobs has opened up more than 140,000 placements for youth between 15 and 30. Some of the jobs are involved in the community and recreation sector, the food industry, the tourism industry and marketing.
“I made a commitment to amplify the diverse voices of youth. No matter the age, gender or cultural background – I continue to be moved every time I meet with youth advocates,” said Marci Ien, Canada’s minister for women, gender equality and youth.
“Canada Summer Jobs supports the incredible talent and leadership of youth who are already at the centre of change. There is no doubt that when given the right tools to succeed, youth create purposeful innovation.”
This year, Canada Summer Jobs will prioritize projects to support youth who have not completed high school or are not currently enrolled in an education or training program.
It also includes youth from Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, Disabled and LGBTQ2+ communities.
Ien’s parliamentary secretary, Jenna Sudds, says after a long two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a crucial push to ensure young Canadians are well-placed for their post-pandemic lives.
“The Canada Summer Jobs Program provides young Canadians with quality summer job opportunities so they can develop the skills and work experience they will need to succeed,” said Sudds.
“Youth are at the center of our recovery efforts and we are committed to investing in their future.”
According to government statistics, Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24 were hard hit by pandemic-related job losses, raising their unemployment rate to a record high of 28.8 per cent in May 2020.
As of March 2022, the youth employment rate sits around 58.6 per cent.
Throughout the summer, young Canadians can find new job opportunities in their communities on jobbank.gc.ca/youth and the Job Bank mobile app.