The results are in. On August 7, we held a press conference at City Hall to release the results from a survey about youth unemployment in Toronto. Youth and staff were on hand to speak, review the report and ansawer questions. 

Survey Results include:

• 64% of youth said a job would enable them to support their family with urgent needs like food, rent, and transportation and reduce their dependence on parents 
• 75% of youth said a meaningful job must align with their passions, values, or sense of purpose — including opportunities to give back to their communities
• 74%of youth cited structural, systemic, or logistical barriers — including transportation, inaccessible job locations, and competing responsibilities like school or caregiving
• 77% of youth reported that a lack of qualifications, prior experience, or training held them back from accessing opportunities
• 60% of youth said their actual or perceived identity (race, age, language, gender, disability) created barriers to employment — making discrimination the most cited challenge

Challenges and Barriers to Employment include:

• Identity-based barriers to employment
• Experience and skills gaps: breaking the catch-22
• Structural & systemic barriers: when access is out of reach

Recommendations include:

• Center equity and inclusion in design and delivery
• Establish a mayor’s youth employment council
• Scale boldly and sustainably
• Make the program accessible and visible
• Create future-focused and skills-rich roles
• Invest in wraparound supports and mentorship
• Tie the program to civic impact

You can read the full report or find out more information about the Capaign.