Youth job prospects face 'long-term scarring' from pandemic, says employment minister

Canadians graduating from high school or entering the job market now are at risk of long-term damage to their job prospects because of the pandemic, says Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough.

Qualtroughtold CBC Newsin an interview for The Houseairing todaythat,in past crises that affected the job market,it was younger Canadians just getting their working lives started who suffered"long-term scarring."

"So we could lose this generation if we don't deliberately or intentionally shore up the sides of their opportunities," Qualtrough told host Chris Hall.

CBC News: The House10:45Generation COVID: Graduating into a pandemic

Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough discusses the federal governments role in supporting graduates who are entering the workforce during the pandemic.

The interview with Qualtroughwas part of a special episode of The House focusing on how thepandemic has affected younger Canadians. The UNhas warned of the risk of a "generational catastrophe" if education and other youth issues are not addressed urgently.

Youth unemployment double national rate

At16.1 per cent in April, theyouth unemployment rate in Canada is double the overallnational rate,according to Statistics Canada data. That's down from the 20.1 per cent rate for all of 2020 but still far higher than rates for any other full year of the past decade.

Timothy Lang, CEO of Youth Employment Services, told The House the real percentageof youth out of workis likely higher than thatbecause some younger Canadians are not looking for work or are on the Canada Recovery Benefit.

"I suspect it's still closer to 20 per cent, which can have a real damaging effect on youth, and there's a scarring effect that can continue well into the future," he said.

There were 101,000 jobs lost among those aged 15-24in Aprilas a new wave of pandemicrestrictions affected sectors that tend to employ young people:retail, food services, culture and recreation.

Long-term consequences

Researchshowsthat those who enter the labour force during a recession can suffer a disadvantage wellinto the future. Studies donefollowing the 2008 financial crash showed young graduates hadhigher rates of unemployment and earned less when theydidgetjobs.

University of Waterloo student Friyana Karai is dealing with itfirsthand. She saidemployers don't seem to be interested in hiring students and she and her peers aremissing out on valuable experience.

"Being in this job market has been really tough," she said. "It's kind of forced me into the position where I have to think about doing more school because I'm not qualified to go into the workforce yet."

Qualtrough said the federal government took steps during the pandemic to address issues facing students, primarily debt and training and apprenticeship opportunities. Budget 2021 included almost $300 million in funding for a new work and training program meant to create 500,000 new opportunities, and othercommitments to training peopleforsmall businesses, thetech sectors and othersectors with labour shortages.

"Whatever jobs we create, we have to unapologetically preserve some of those opportunities for young people,"Qualtroughsaid, pointing to a program to plant five billion trees and another that would help small businesses digitize.

Qualtrough saidthe pandemic has reinforcedbarriers to young people entering the labour force, especially thosewith disabilities, or racialized or Indigenous people.

She spoke about her own four children and their difficulties in managing education and work throughout the pandemic.

"Am I worried as a mom? Yeah. But do I think we can fix it and make sure this whole generation isn't lost? Absolutely."

• Listen to CBC Radio's The House:Generation COVID