Laila Goodridge, House of Commons 2025. File Photo
OTTAWA — As students prepare to enter the summer job market, new data suggests many young Canadians may face growing difficulty finding work.
A recent report from the Fraser Institute says youth unemployment has risen sharply in recent years, climbing from 10 per cent in 2022 to 13.8 per cent in 2025, the largest three-year increase recorded outside of a recession.
The study estimates about 437,000 Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24 were unable to find work last year, a significant increase from roughly 290,000 in 2022.
“Canada’s youth unemployment is a crisis and will have serious consequences in later years when youths today who are unable to secure work try to find steady employment as adults,” said Philip Cross, a senior fellow with the think tank and author of the report.
The gap between youth and adult unemployment has also widened, with the youth rate sitting more than eight percentage points higher than the adult rate in 2025.
The report notes Canada’s youth unemployment rate has remained consistently above that of the United States for more than a decade.
Conservative MP Laila Goodridge said the numbers point to broader economic challenges facing young people.
“Too many young Canadians are looking for work and coming up empty,” Goodridge said in a statement. “With youth unemployment over 14 per cent, it’s clear something isn’t working.”
The study attributes the rise in youth unemployment to a combination of factors, including increased labour supply and higher employment costs in some sectors, particularly retail and food services, where many young people find entry-level work.
Goodridge said her party would focus on policies aimed at strengthening the economy and creating more opportunities for young workers.
“Conservatives will get our economy moving so young people can succeed and build a life they deserve,” she said.
Economists warn that prolonged periods of unemployment early in a person’s career can have lasting effects, including lower earnings and reduced job stability later in life.
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