CANADALAND Young People Can't Find Work and It's Messing Them Up
Aug 19, 2025
Brendon Bernard, a senior economist at Indeed, dives into the alarming rise of youth unemployment in Canada, highlighting how many young people are overqualified yet struggling to find work. He discusses the cultural and psychological impacts of dwindling summer jobs, which traditionally provide joy and independence. Bernard addresses systemic barriers young job seekers face, the exacerbation from foreign worker policies, and the urgent need for society to listen to their concerns as they navigate a challenging job market.
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Sixteen-Year-Old Caring For Family Can’t Find Work
- Tay, 16, applied widely but never got callbacks and needs work to support her single mother and disabled sister.
- She volunteers and cares for her sibling but still cannot land entry-level roles despite relevant lived experience.
Hundreds Of Applications, Almost No Responses
- Matthew applied to roughly 110 jobs with only two interviews and grew discouraged by repeated silence from employers.
- He reports trying many platforms and even low-pay gigs with no responses, which damaged his confidence.
Youth Unemployment Creates Long-Term Scarring
- Dr. Srividya Iyer explains youth unemployment causes both wage scarring and psychological scarring that persist long-term.
- Losing formative early-career opportunities reduces skills, networks, confidence, and lifetime earnings.