Ottawa youth struggle to find footing in tough job market

New data shows Canada’s youth unemployment rate went up. CTV’s Kimberley Johnson speaks with young jobseekers who say it’s a difficult job market in Ottawa.

Canada’s unemployment rate ticked up in December as more Canadians searched for work, but it’s young people in particular who are feeling the pressure in the job market.

Carleton University student Isrial Thomas says she’s set to graduate later this year, but she has no plans to let her current part-time job go while she looks for a job in her field.

“I don’t see myself quitting under any circumstances,” she says. “I don’t think that there’s another job laying around the corner right now.”

Thomas says she makes above minimum wage as a supervisor and barista.

“It’s a bit scary. I won’t go as far as, say, hopeless, but it’s intimidating,” she explains of the job market for those her age. “I don’t know anybody who would be willing to quit their job.”

Canada’s national unemployment rate is sitting at 6.8 per cent in December, even as the economy added jobs, according to Statistics Canada.

“I have a feeling we’re like in a quiet market right now and the only way you’re going to get a job really easily is if you have a way in,” says first year student Jonathan Kizner. “If you have little to no connections, I find that it might be a little harder. ”

There’s more competition now for jobs that would traditionally be pursued by younger people, says Santos Ligotti, the Vice President, Marketing and Member Services with the Retail Council of Canada.

“I think where the win was, and I think where the issue is with youth employment, is the fact that there were a lot more part time jobs available in retail, but there were a lot more people chasing those jobs,” he explains.

“So, it wasn’t just youth who usually, you know, are one of the main sectors that go after these types of jobs, but also other people in, you know, who may have taken on a second job just for a little bit of extra income for the season.”

The Statistics Canada data shows that youth job market is taking a hit, at 13.3 per cent in December after seeing job gains in October and November.

Sarah Creary is a first year Masters student who says she’s looking for work in the federal government in her field but the competition for jobs is tight.

“I am looking for a co-op position, and it’s looking pretty scarce at the moment, so, it’s definitely going to be a bit of a fight for a job this summer,” she explains. “Definitely stressful. A little anxiety inducing. Pretty unknown, like ‘what’s going to happen?’ So, just hoping for the best.”

Fellow student Alyssa Warga agrees and says the small number of job listings they see has been a topic of conversation lately.

“It’s intimidating, but I try to keep in mind that unemployment tends to be cyclical,” she explains. “So, I hope that there will be a natural come up along with my hard work.”

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