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There’s a paradox at the heart of this challenge: employers demand candidates with prior experience, yet young people cannot gain that experience without first receiving meaningful job opportunities. This catch-22 shapes an employment landscape for a generation eager to contribute.
A U-Report poll conducted in August 2025, with 177 respondents, revealed that 90% of young people describe the job search as either “very difficult” or “somewhat difficult”, while only 1% consider it “very easy”.
Behind these bleak statistics lies a generation that has not given up. Far from being passive, young Canadians are offering solutions and insisting on being heard, and they are clear about what needs to change. “We can figure things out, we don’t need years of experience to do customer service/serving job,” one respondent shared. Many others echoed, young people are ready and able to adapt. They just need an opportunity to prove themselves and demonstrate their dedication.
This determination is shaped by a rapidly evolving environment. According to Statistics Canada, in spring 2024, nearly half (45%) of Canadians reported that rising prices were greatly affecting their ability to meet day-to-day expenses.
These economic pressures were evident in the experiences shared by respondents, one of whom explained that, one aspect that is different for this generation compared to the last is the new environment that has started to grow. We witness how youth scramble to make ends meet facing an unsteady job market, high inflation, and rising rents. Our generation is eager to move forward while combatting these issues, holding themselves to a whole new level of responsibility.
Technology, too, defines this generation’s approach to work. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report (2023) projects that 75% of companies will adopt cloud computing and AI-related technologies within five years. In this rapidly evolving digital economy, employers must leverage young Canadians who excel in AI and emerging technologies to maintain a competitive edge.
Growing up in a digital world and navigating AI-driven systems, young people bring not only adaptability and creativity but also fluency with tools and platforms that older generations may struggle to leverage. Their lived experience in this digital landscape gives them a unique advantage, but only if they are given the opportunities to apply it.
This frustration points to a paradox at the heart of the labour market. How can young people gain experience if they are not offered meaningful entry-level opportunities in the first place? Limited openings and rigid hiring practices make it difficult for youth to get their foot in the door, while the housing crisis compounds the squeeze: what good is a job offer if the pay cannot cover rent? As one respondent noted, “Employment and housing policies must be rethought together; there’s no point in earning a wage you cannot live on.”
The good news is that solutions are within reach. Respondents are not just identifying a problem; they are offering a blueprint. They want employers to invest in paid training, provide transparent pathways to permanent work, and listen to younger voices at the table. They want policymakers to align employment policy with housing affordability, so that the transition from education to independence is no longer a cliff edge.
If taken seriously, these reforms could unlock not only opportunity for individuals, but also productivity for the economy. In an ageing society, Canada cannot afford to sideline its youngest workers. Harnessing their energy, adaptability, and skills is an economic necessity.
Employers and policymakers face a choice: sideline a generation and weaken Canada’s competitiveness or invest in youth and unlock the potential of a generation ready, skilled, and prepared to lead in a digital economy.
This article has been authored by Divya, a UNICEF Canada U-Report Ambassador. To become a U-Reporter and share your insights on issues that matter to you, sign up here.
