Employment Patterns & Trends

Different stakeholders can have different perspectives about which economic course of action is most appropriate.

Students will analyse patterns and trends related to employment and unemployment in Canada, their causes, and their impact on individuals and society (FOCUS ON: Cause and Effect; Stability and Variability)

C3.1: Students will analyse economic data to identify employment/unemployment patterns and explain how these patterns affect individuals and society

I can provide statistics and analyze charts to explain employment/unemployment trends
I can list & explain reasons for youth unemployment
I can explain why high youth unemployment is a concern to different stakeholders
I can analyze economic data to demonstrate regional disparities
I can provide reasons for regional unemployment disparities

The unemployment rate for young workers has always been higher than the national average
The latest data show the youth jobless rate at about 16 per cent, nearly double the national level
The labor participation rate for youth is 63 per cent, compared with nearly 90 per cent for prime working age employees
UE Charts

The lack of adequately paid employment is one reason more young adults live with their parents
More than 40 per cent of adults between the ages of 20 and 29 lived with their parents in 2017 compared with 27 per cent three decades ago
Some graduates are forced to work for no pay to gain experience
According to the Canadian Intern Association, there are 300,000 unpaid interns across the country
Up to 83,000 GTHA youth aged 15-24 are Not in Education, Employment or Training – a category called NEET. That’s about 10% of the youth in the region.

Youth are at a developmental stage when positive experiences, like a supportive first-job opportunity, can help them navigate their life transitions and challenges
Within this group of youth facing barriers to employment are those who, with some support, are ready for work

Lost output
Increased pressure on social supports (e.g. health and social assistance, etc.).
One study, conducted by researchers from Columbia University and City University of New York, calculated the short- and long-term economic burden for youth in U.S. who aren’t in school or working. The cumulative lifetime burden to society was conservatively estimated to be $1 million per youth

Narrows the local labor pool
Companies can’t enjoy as diverse a workforce – an economic and competitive disadvantage
The Canadian Council on Learning estimates the collective loss of tax revenue from high school dropouts at $115 billion$ (over 35 years), and the lifetime private health care costs at $623 billion$
So what are the roadblocks to opportunity for youth?

Often, these young people lack connections to positive mentors or role models who could help them navigate the job market, expand their networks, get job-ready and develop life skills

Many youth can’t gain the experience to get a job. Existing opportunities are often short-term, with few prospects and limited training or mentorship to build transferable skills

Youth in marginalized neighborhoods are often unable to reach their workplaces in a timely or inexpensive manner. Certain parts of the region have no public transit service outside of peak hours, or at all.

Some employers perceive that certain segments of youth have negative attitudes, lack a work ethic, or lack motivation to do entry-level jobs
Human resource systems can introduce bias, through recruitment and screening processes
For Indigenous youth, 35% of those aged 15-19 and close to 20% of those aged 20-24 are unemployed
For visible minorities, the unemployment numbers are nearly 33% of 15-19 year-olds and over 20% of 20-24 year-olds
For newcomers, 31% of those 15-19 and 21% of those 20-24 are unemployed

A few of Ontario’s census metropolitan areas—namely Windsor, Oshawa, Brantford and London —have youth unemployment rates over 20%
Toronto has become a ‘sink’ for internal migration from other parts of Canada. They may face similar barriers to foreign-born young workers and may increase the size of the youth cohort not in the labor force.
A rise in unpaid internships and similar unpaid labor