Youth feeling impact amid record-level unemployment
Youth unemployment numbers — which just hit near-record levels — will get worse before they get better, but there are glimmers of hope for those entering the workplace.
Windsor’s youth unemployment numbers reached 26.8 per cent in April 2020, up from 20.8 per cent in March, and three per cent higher than the provincial average.
Nationally, youth unemployment saw the steepest rise to 27.7 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.
“Youth are typically first impacted when there’s a downturn, because youth often have less experience and are more likely to be in a less pivotal role in a company,” said Justin Falconer, CEO of Workforce Windsoressex.
These numbers are likely lower than reality, because unemployment numbers take an average of the previous three months.
For instance, March’s unemployment figures include the figures for January and February.
“So, because the pandemic hit so quickly and so fast, there was all of a sudden a giant spike,” Falconer said. “But when you look at the average it doesn’t seem as bad, in part because it was watered down by January and February being normal.”
That means in the coming months, numbers are going to start looking much worse, Falconer said.
Students saw a much sharper drop in employment numbers than non-students. This is because students are more likely to work in the accommodation and food services industry, which had the largest declines overall, according to a Statistics Canada report.
“It’s probably the tightest labour market since the 2008 crash,” Falconer said. “For sure, it’s going to be tough. Companies are not hiring the way they used to, and those who are, are probably looking to hire existing employees before they hire new ones.”
Job postings were down in Windsor, from 4,036 postings in March to 3,145 postings in April, according to Falconer.
Precious Akpunonu, a recent graduate from the master’s of human resources management program at the University of Windsor, is looking for work. She spends her day watching webinars, fixing her resumé and registering for online networking sessions.
“I follow certain recruiters who give me certain tips on job searching during the pandemic, and how to remain hopeful,” she said.
Akpunonu, who is originally from Nigeria, was laid off from her job at the International Student
Centre at the University of Windsor when the campus was shut down over COVID-19.
She has had to put some bills on hold while she looks for work, but said her landlord has been understanding, and food drives run by her church community have helped a great deal.
Akpunonu is hesitant to directly ask for jobs, but said she is starting to see some progress and recruiters are sending her resumés to employers.
“Over the past few weeks, the quality of information has been so good, I’ve learned a lot,” she said. “I’ve been using it not just as a job search tool, but for personal development, and it’s something I’ll continue even after I find work.”
While the current job market looks dire for students, there may be a “dramatic shift in how we do business” said Falconer, towards more remote, online work, which could boost youth employment rates. “There’s an older group of workers, that if they’re eligible to retire, they’re probably thinking of retiring,” he said.
“Maybe they kept coming back to work because they liked who they work with, and now they’re working from home and maybe thinking, ‘It’s not quite the same.’ ”
Changes to workplaces can provide a reason for optimism for young workers, added Falconer.
“New business practices like having contactless delivery, those are conveniences that may last the test of time,” he said.
“As businesses look to create these innovations, they will create new opportunities.”