McDonald's to hire more than 6,000 young people at one-day event

A McDonald's restaurant sign is seen at a McDonald's restaurant in Chicago, Friday, Oct. 4, 2013. (AP / Nam Y. Huh)

TORONTO -- McDonald's Canada and its franchisees are set to hire more than 6,000 young people at a one-day event on Thursday at participating restaurants across the country.

McDonald's says it's aiming to hire the largest number of young people it has ever attempted in one day in Canada.

The fast food chain notes that youth unemployment rates are almost double the national average of 6.9 per cent in March.

However, it also says 75 per cent of McDonald Canada employees are between the ages of 15 and 24.

McDonald's says job-seekers can apply in-person and be interviewed on-the-spot for one of more than 6,100 available positions, including 6,000 crew and 150 managers. Candidates can also apply online at McDonalds.ca/Careers.

Recently, one of the chain's franchisees in British Columbia has been under investigation for allegedly abusing the federal government's Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

A spokesman for McDonald's Western Canada says work is underway to remove the Victoria franchise owner and run the three affected restaurants through its head office.