As the COVID-19 pandemic swept Canada, the labour market ground to a halt. In the span of weeks, students preparing for life after post-secondary education have seen their convocation ceremonies cancelled and their employment opportunities slip away, most without guarantee of returning anytime soon. Nearly a million people between the ages of 15 and 24 enter the job market during the summer, according to StatsCan, and nearly 100,000 students take part in co-op programs. “This is a group of people struggling with rent, tuition, living expenses, and who often rely on summer employment and immediate postgraduate employment to stay afloat and pay bills. It will take weeks or months to identify and apply for summer jobs, and that’s if there are businesses that are still hiring.

Source: thestar April 08, 2020 22:07 UTC