Youth employment plan
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to present, with youth and stakeholders, a clear plan to reduce youth unemployment and report progress to Parliament. The government responds that Budget 2025 investments and programs address goals.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would produce a coordinated, consultative plan targeting youth unemployment and align training with labour‑market needs, helping young people gain relevant skills and work experience.
- Mandatory reporting to Parliament would create transparency and allow tracking of job creation, training alignment and youth labour‑market participation over time.
- Consultation with youth, employers and educators increases policy relevance, helping programs address barriers like skills gaps and local hiring needs.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The plan could duplicate existing federal programs and Budget 2025 investments, adding administrative overlap rather than new outcomes.
- A plan without specific targets, timelines or new funding may be too vague to change employers’ hiring practices or reduce unemployment effectively.
- Provincial and territorial roles in labour‑market programs complicate implementation and may limit the federal plan’s practical impact.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: Youth unemployment is alarmingly high across Canada, leaving many young Canadians unable to secure stable, full-time employment despite their education, skills, and ambition; Training and skills development programs have not kept pace with the realities of Canada's labour market, leaving many young people without the experience or qualifications employers are seeking; Immigration policy has not been effectively aligned with labour market needs, limiting opportunities for young Canadians to enter their chosen fields; The rising cost of living makes it harder for young people to afford housing near available jobs, and for businesses to attract and retain employees; Persistent youth unemployment weakens Canada's economy and social well-being. Therefore, we, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to: 1. Present a clear plan to reduce youth unemployment, developed in consultation with young Canadians, employers, and educators; 2. Report to the Parliament on progress toward job creation, training alignment, and youth labour market participation.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario Signed by Annie Koutrakis Present a clear plan to reduce youth unemployment, developed in consultation with young Canadians, employers, and educators; Present a clear plan to reduce youth unemployment, developed in consultation with young Canadians, employers, and educators; The government has taken and continues to take youth unemployment seriously. Youth are the drivers of future economic growth. This is why, working with our partners, we must ensure they are equipped with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive. The Government of Canada has a suite of interventions that help youth and students pursue and complete their studies, build their skills and gain work experience to access employment opportunities and start their careers, at different points of their school to work transitions. To invest in a robust and adaptable workforce, Budget 2025 is making investments to support about 175,000 youth in 2026-27, empowering the next generation with the confidence and skills they need to succeed. These investments are in a number of programs, including: Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ): Budget 2025 will provide $594.7 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for CSJ to support around 100,000 summer jobs in summer 2026. CSJ supports employers to create jobs for youth in not-for-profit, public and private sectors. It includes a focus on small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees to create quality summer employment opportunities for young people between the ages of 15 and 30, including those who face barriers. CSJ provides youth with opportunities to develop and improve their skills, and for some, it is a first job experience that informs their education, training, and career choices. The program is also responsive to national and local priorities and labour market needs. CSJ 2026 will prioritize supporting youth to get job experiences linked to sectors and skills in demand, including: 1) jobs that provide work experience related to construction; 2) jobs that provide work experience related to green jobs and environmental protection; and 3) jobs that provide exposure to technology and digital skills, including opportunities to develop foundational artificial intelligence skills in the workplace. Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ): Budget 2025 will provide $594.7 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for CSJ to support around 100,000 summer jobs in summer 2026. CSJ supports employers to create jobs for youth in not-for-profit, public and private sectors. It includes a focus on small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees to create quality summer employment opportunities for young people between the ages of 15 and 30, including those who face barriers. CSJ provides youth with opportunities to develop and improve their skills, and for some, it is a first job experience that informs their education, training, and career choices. The program is also responsive to national and local priorities and labour market needs. CSJ 2026 will prioritize supporting youth to get job experiences linked to sectors and skills in demand, including: 1) jobs that provide work experience related to construction; 2) jobs that provide work experience related to green jobs and environmental protection; and 3) jobs that provide exposure to technology and digital skills, including opportunities to develop foundational artificial intelligence skills in the workplace. ESDC continually makes improvements to the CSJ program to better meet the needs of youth and employers. This includes responding to recommendations made in 2024 by the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, which heard from stakeholders representing young Canadians, employers and educators, and the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program (YESS): Budget 2025 provides $307.9 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, for the horizontal YESS Program to provide employment, training, and wraparound supports (e.g., mentorship, transportation, mental health counselling) to around 20,000 youth facing employment barriers annually. Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program (YESS): Budget 2025 provides $307.9 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, for the horizontal YESS Program to provide employment, training, and wraparound supports (e.g., mentorship, transportation, mental health counselling) to around 20,000 youth facing employment barriers annually. In addition to CSJ, YESS delivered through a network of 12 federal departments, agencies, and Crown corporations. The Strategy is designed to support diverse youth (aged 15 to 30) to become job-ready through work experience, training, skills development and wraparound supports that allow them to successfully transition into diverse sectors of the labour market. Through its wide range of programs, the Strategy invests in young people to build a strong Canadian economy while ensuring we continue to support those who may struggle to get ahead. The YESS is informed by regular stakeholder engagement, including with youth-serving organizations, employers, and youth. For example, ESDC’s most recent Call for Proposals included a Youth with Disabilities stream to increase the availability of inclusive programming to support youth with disabilities and address the unique employment challenges faced by these individuals, who are underrepresented in the labour market. The development of this stream was informed by roundtable engagements that took place in late 2022, where we heard from youth with disabilities directly. Student Work Placement Program (SWPP): Budget 2025 proposes to provide $635.2 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to ESDC for the SWPP to support around 55,000 work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for post-secondary students in 2026-27. SWPP supports the creation of WIL opportunities for students of all ages enrolled in any post-secondary education program at a college, university, or polytechnic in Canada. The Program supports post-secondary students to develop work-ready skills, employers to hire and develop talent, and post-secondary institutions to keep pace with changing on-the-job expectations. Student Work Placement Program (SWPP): Budget 2025 proposes to provide $635.2 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to ESDC for the SWPP to support around 55,000 work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for post-secondary students in 2026-27. SWPP supports the creation of WIL opportunities for students of all ages enrolled in any post-secondary education program at a college, university, or polytechnic in Canada. The Program supports post-secondary students to develop work-ready skills, employers to hire and develop talent, and post-secondary institutions to keep pace with changing on-the-job expectations. Youth Climate Corps: Finally, the Government heard from stakeholders that climate-related jobs are a priority for young people and employers. Budget 2025 provides $40 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, to ESDC to create a Youth Climate Corps to provide paid skills training for young Canadians. Youth will be trained to quickly respond to climate emergencies, support recovery, and strengthen resilience in communities across the country. The skills training and work experience opportunities created through a Youth Climate Corps support reducing youth unemployment, increasing innovation, and strengthening adaptation and mitigation projects. Youth Climate Corps: Finally, the Government heard from stakeholders that climate-related jobs are a priority for young people and employers. Budget 2025 provides $40 million over two years, starting in 2026-27, to ESDC to create a Youth Climate Corps to provide paid skills training for young Canadians. Youth will be trained to quickly respond to climate emergencies, support recovery, and strengthen resilience in communities across the country. The skills training and work experience opportunities created through a Youth Climate Corps support reducing youth unemployment, increasing innovation, and strengthening adaptation and mitigation projects. Budget 2024 contained a commitment to engage with stakeholders on the development of the Youth Climate Corps. Initial engagement took place in late 2024 and early 2025 and will inform design and implementation of the program. Labour Market Transfers: As key partners in supporting youth employment, provinces and territories also have a critical role to play. Each year, the Government of Canada provides approximately $3 billion in funding through the bilateral Labour Market Development Agreements and the Workforce Development Agreements. Federally-funded Labour Market Agreement programming supported over 260,000 youth in 2025-2026, which is about 30% of all individuals served through labour market transfers. Labour Market Transfers: As key partners in supporting youth employment, provinces and territories also have a critical role to play. Each year, the Government of Canada provides approximately $3 billion in funding through the bilateral Labour Market Development Agreements and the Workforce Development Agreements. Federally-funded Labour Market Agreement programming supported over 260,000 youth in 2025-2026, which is about 30% of all individuals served through labour market transfers. In addition to these investments, the Forum of Labour Market Ministers, of which Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario is co-Chair, has recently adopted youth inclusion in the labour market as a key strategic pillar of its work. In the coming months, the Forum will convene a summit on youth employment that will provide an opportunity for Ministers to take stock of the current labour market situation for youth, hear perspectives from stakeholders representing youth and employers, discuss the current priorities in each jurisdiction, and agree on a path forward to share best practices and advance coordinated actions where possible, to support youth employment over the coming months. Finally, on November 24, 2025, ESDC launched a national engagement on youth employment to gather insights on the challenges facing young people in today's job market. These insights will help provide the Government of Canada with critical perspectives directly from Canadians, including youth, on this important topic. These efforts are part of a broader set of initiatives and investments already in place. Feedback received will inform a path forward, ensuring young people have the opportunities they need to thrive. 2. Report to the Parliament on progress toward job creation, training alignment, and youth labour market participation. YESS and CSJ Results for the horizontal YESS program and CSJ can be found in the Departmental Results Reports, publicly available each year. Budget 2024 allocated an additional $200.5 million for CSJ to create 70,000 job opportunities in summer 2025. In response to the rise in youth unemployment, in June 2025, the Government reallocated $25 million to support an additional 6,000 job opportunities, for a total of 76,000 job opportunities for young people as part of CSJ 2025. Though final reporting is not complete, ESDC is on track to meet its target. Recent studies confirm the effectiveness of the YESS and CSJ in having improved long-term employment outcomes for youth, including increased employment levels, higher earnings, and less dependence on government income supports. CSJ Impact The 2024 horizontal evaluation of the YESS found that youth who participated in CSJ experienced higher wages, lower reliance on income support, and stronger workforce retention. The 2024 horizontal evaluation of the YESS found that youth who participated in CSJ experienced higher wages, lower reliance on income support, and stronger workforce retention. Participation in CSJ strengthens labour market attachment of youth participants relative to non-participants –including for under-served and barriered youth, such as young women and youth with disabilities. Participation in CSJ strengthens labour market attachment of youth participants relative to non-participants –including for under-served and barriered youth, such as young women and youth with disabilities. The 2024 OAG audit determined that CSJ successfully connects youth with employers, and that program participants benefited from better long-term earnings compared to non-participants. The 2024 OAG audit determined that CSJ successfully connects youth with employers, and that program participants benefited from better long-term earnings compared to non-participants. YESS Impact The 2024 horizontal evaluation also found that YESS participants have increased employment levels and employment earnings after program participation. The 2024 horizontal evaluation also found that YESS participants have increased employment levels and employment earnings after program participation. Relative to a comparison group, participants in a YESS employment opportunity increase their earnings, on average, by $4,000+ in the first-year post-program and $5,000+ in the second-year post-program. Relative to a comparison group, participants in a YESS employment opportunity increase their earnings, on average, by $4,000+ in the first-year post-program and $5,000+ in the second-year post-program. Compared to the overall Canadian youth population, the YESS Program is reaching a greater proportion of many under-served or barriered youth populations. Compared to the overall Canadian youth population, the YESS Program is reaching a greater proportion of many under-served or barriered youth populations. SWPP Results - Results for SWPP can be found in the Departmental Results Reports, publicly available each year. SWPP Impact The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) project funded by the SWPP found that “over half (56%) of the WIL alumni surveyed for [their] study attained full-time, permanent employment immediately after graduation, while an additional 14% obtained full-time contract positions”.* The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) project funded by the SWPP found that “over half (56%) of the WIL alumni surveyed for [their] study attained full-time, permanent employment immediately after graduation, while an additional 14% obtained full-time contract positions”.* According to a report by ICTC and Magnet in collaboration with six other funding recipients found that “according to their own self-reporting, employers involved in the SWPP, yield an average benefit of $401 per month per student”.** According to a report by ICTC and Magnet in collaboration with six other funding recipients found that “according to their own self-reporting, employers involved in the SWPP, yield an average benefit of $401 per month per student”.** In the same report, “students participating in the SWPP report receiving, on average, $1,182 more per month via their [SWPP] placements than they would have received in their next-best alternative”.** In the same report, “students participating in the SWPP report receiving, on average, $1,182 more per month via their [SWPP] placements than they would have received in their next-best alternative”.** * Clark, A., et al. (2025). Québec’s Digital Economy: Outlook 2030 . ICTC. ** Cutean, A., et al. (2023). The Impact of Work-Integrated Learning on Student Success and the Canadian Economy: A Case Study of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP). ICTC.