Hundreds of people show up to job fair aimed at youth and newcomers

It's a tough time to be looking for work if you're a youth. The Newcomers Centre held a job fair Thursday to provide those seeking work a little hope.

The Immigrant Education Society (TIES) held its Employer Appreciation and Youth Networking Event on Friday to help youth find work.

Angelica Vidal attended the event searching for an entry-level position.

“I did not think it would be this difficult for an entry level (job). Like, they’re mostly looking for experience for entry level,” said Vidal.

The 20-year-old has lived in Canada for five years and says she has applied to more than 200 jobs in the past year, only receiving three interviews.

“(I’m) trying to get my hopes up for maybe one or two interviews,” said Vidal.

The job fair at the Genesis Centre welcomed hundreds of people, connecting them with 24 employers across several different fields.

“(We’re) bringing in the client so we can have these meaningful connections with employers and hiring managers and recruiters so they can learn hiring practices (and) get exposure opportunities,” said Mayssoun Hniedi, TIES manager of employment and career development.

Youth are facing difficulties finding steady work, as unemployment in the province sits at 14.5 per cent, above the national average, according to Statistics Canada.

“Youth are not just competing with themselves. They’re also competing with low-skilled people who are having a hard time finding jobs and having to move down into the jobs that would normally be taken up by teenagers,” said Moshe Lander, a Concordia University economics professor.

TIES says it’s tough for youth who are also newcomers to find work.

“There’s a bit of an anti-immigrant sentiment, and part of it is some employers are not really understanding the value of what newcomers bring to the country and that they are actually experienced,” said Hniedi.

Hniedi says it used to take two months to help newcomers find work, but now it can take up to six.

“They have the skills and they have the education. They just need to be given an opportunity,” said Hniedi.