Young Canadians are finding it tough to find work amid economic uncertainty, AI adoption: expert

Conservative shadow minister for employment Garnett Genius says the new data from Statistics Canada shows an ‘alarming’ unemployment rate for youth.

Since graduating high school in Metro Vancouver a year and a half ago, 20-year-old Omar Younis says finding a full-time job has been an exercise in rejection.

“Any job, construction, customer service, sales, anything,” he said, noting the response is often, “We’re going to call you, we’re going to call you later.”Across the country in Ottawa, Carleton University student Isrial Thomas says she plans to keep her part-time job even after finishing her studies, in case she can’t secure work in her field. “I don’t see myself quitting under any circumstances,” she said. “It’s a bit scary. I won’t go as far as say, hopeless, but like, it’s intimidating.”

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Statistics Canada data shows many young Canadians may be in the same boat. In the second half of 2025, the youth unemployment rate climbed to levels not seen in more than a decade outside of the pandemic years. Young workers aged 15 to 24 accounted for 27,000 job losses in December, as the youth jobless rate rose to 13.3 per cent.

“The struggles of young people are real,” said Tara Parry, Director of Permanent Placement Services with employment agency Robert Half in Vancouver.

Parry points to several factors, including uncertainty created by the U.S. trade war slowing hiring decisions and creating fewer entry level openings.

“We’ve seen one of our lowest years for general attrition, for a very long time. So, people aren’t leaving the jobs that they’re in,” she said. “As much as employers were delaying hiring, employees weren’t leaving because they were nervous about moving to something new when the economy is uncertain.”

The rise of artificial intelligence is also playing a role. Parry acknowledged AI tools are affecting highly repetitive roles that don’t require significant critical thinking, positions that often serve as entry points for young workers, though not necessarily by eliminating jobs altogether.

“People who are comfortable with the technology are getting jobs faster than people who are not,” she said.

Parry says while AI can help job seekers polish their resume and cover letter, she still believes it is still good old-fashioned networking - connections you can make through family, friends, or a neighbour - that may actually land you a job.