Students at Fanshawe College are struggling to land jobs as a recent report shows the youth unemployment rate is hitting new highs.
Statistics Canada reveals the rate hit 14.7 per cent in September; the highest it has ever been in 15 years aside from 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic. This is up three percentage points from last year in the same month.
“I feel like you kind of have to know someone, if you don’t know someone and you send your application, they’re getting so many they just don’t see it,” said Andraya, a student at the college.
The report also shows that this followed a hard summer for student unemployment specifically and became the highest it has been since 2009, aside from 2020.
(Statistics Canada data)
Others are concerned that job applications do not always inform how much experience is expected, and “tend to pick people with a lot more experience” says Matt, another Fanshawe student. He believes if you’re not granted a job “you can’t really build experience” needed for further opportunities.
When asked about online applications, a student named Ephrem thinks the market is over-saturated, especially on Indeed where it’s “really tough” and “they show so many jobs, but there’s like thousands and thousands of people applying for the exact same job.”
Career services at the college are available to students, including resume help, online workshops, drop-in meetings, and free professional clothing to borrow for interviews.
(Fanshawe College main campus, Naomi Ljunggren)
“The biggest challenge for students is not reaching out and asking for supports,” said Darlene O’Neill, Director in Employee Services at Fanshawe.
O’Neill encourages going out to businesses and stores with resume in hand where there are part time jobs for students to “meet the people.” She believes this will better your chances at getting hired on the spot or getting a call-back.
Public resources are also available, says O’Neill, with “stuff on LinkedIn” on “how to network with people.”
The career services department will be hosting their Ignite 2025 event on Nov. 8 to deliver workshops and teach students about effective leadership, with aims to set students up for successful careers.
