Now hiring: Calgary employment event looks to connect youth, young adults with employers

Young Calgarians polished up their resumes and prepped for interviews ahead of connecting with employers at the city's Youth Hiring Fair.

Thousands of young Calgarians are polishing their resumes and prepping for interviews as they connect with employers at the city’s 27th annual Youth Hiring Fair.

The free event, held Thursday at the Big Four Building from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., is organized by the City of Calgary’s Youth Employment Centre (YEC).

Designed for high school students, recent graduates and post-secondary students, organizers say the event gives young adults the opportunity to connect with 80 employers actively looking for workers.

The youth hiring fair has connected close to 2,000 employers with more than 97,000 young adults.

Roughly 5,000 youth attend the fair each year in an effort to secure employment opportunities, making it Calgary’s largest youth-focused event, according to Heather Johnson, director of recreation and social programs at the City of Calgary.

“As Calgary’s youth continue to shape our city’s future, the Youth Hiring Fair plays a crucial role in helping them access opportunities that align with their talents and aspirations,” Johnson said.

“This event not only connects them with employers but also builds the foundation for future career growth, helping our city’s youth develop the skills they need to thrive.”

Johnson says the event is even more important, given Alberta’s typically higher youth unemployment rate (ages 15 to 24 years old), which currently sits at 13.1 per cent as of February 2025.

That rate is nearly double Alberta’s overall unemployment rate, which sits at 6.7 per cent.

Some of the employers at the fair include Calgary EMS, the Calgary Humane Society, Telus Spark, Volker Stevin Contracting, Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, Calgary Police Service, Parks Canada, Calgary Stampede and the City of Calgary.

Anyone unable to attend the event is encouraged to visit the YEC, located at 315 10th Ave. S.E., to take advantage of free employment services.

“Youth who take the time to prepare in advance will gain a competitive edge at the fair,” said Tara Huxley, team lead at the YEC.

“Our free services, including resume assistance, job search strategies and interview coaching, are designed to equip young job seekers with the tools they need to make a lasting impression.”

Beware of job scammers

Cristina Schultz, a recruitment manager with About Staffing, says youth job seekers are often among the most eager to get into the workforce, but should also be wary of scammers.

“It’s a frightening time right now, with organizations who target the vulnerable population, and job seekers are a massive target right now for scams, unfortunately,” she said.

“We see it in so many ways, but one to be really cautious of is text messages or WhatsApp messages coming through with job opportunities. Odds are, especially if you haven’t applied for the job or communicated with that person, that it’s a scam.”

Schultz says job seekers should also be very careful of providing their personal or banking information and to scan sites beforehand.

Recently, About Staffing, which is a reputable job recruiting agency, has been the target of scammers who have attempted to impersonate Schultz.

“We’ve had people impersonating me, doing FaceTime interviews, asking people for their banking information and that’s something we could never do,” Schultz said.

“So rule of thumb, don’t send your banking information to just anyone. That is information you need to hold near and dear and really, really be mindful of who you’re sharing it with.”