Funding For Youth Employment Must Reflect COVID Challenges
One of the hardest hit group of people impacted the most by COVID lockdowns and job loss s are young people. If they want to help young job-seekers, policy-makers must consider how they can improve technological and mental health support.
Youth, those aged 15-29 (7.2 million, or 19 percent of the people in Canada), have been greatly affected by the economic consequences of COVID-19. They have seen their education disrupted, hours cut, and jobs lost. According to Statistics Canada’s July Labour Force Survey, employment for youth aged 15-24 was 17.4 percent lower than in February, equivalent to 445,000 fewer workers.
It has been shown that those starting their careers during an economic downturn face slower wage growth and career progression when compared with cohorts that start their careers in strong economic times. These numbers do not even take into account the mental health effects of vanishing job opportunities, and the general uncertainties that youth are facing.