Y-Files
November 14, 2007 03:54 PM
By: Jessie Worobey - Youth writer
Where are all the jobs?
Although Statistics Canada reports Ontario’s unemployment rate dropped just slightly in 2007 — decreasing the unemployment rate to 6.4 per cent — it doesn’t apply to Georgina, some students say.
“It’s hard to find a job in Georgina, only because all the jobs are taken. There are no new opportunities,” high school student Kayla Brausewetter said.
The Ontario employment rate has increased by 1.7 per cent, statistics show.
In a survey released by Stats Can Sept. 7, 30,000 new full-time jobs became available.
This rise did not look promising for youth employment, however, in a survey released earlier this month, 32,000 part-time jobs opened up across the province.
“It’s hard for youth to get jobs in Georgina because a lot of places won’t hire youth with no experience or there is already enough people working at the store, so there aren’t many openings,” student Melissa Brisebrois said.
Since September 2006, part-time opportunities in Ontario have increased by almost 6 per cent, however, young people say the increase isn’t showing in Georgina.
With the costs of post-secondary education rising each year, plus the monthly cost of cellphones, vehicle insurance, etc., young people are having trouble making ends meet.
“I don’t pay bills right now, but I’m going to have to and I won’t make enough money to pay them,” Amanda Blanchard said.
It is one thing to be making minimum wage, which barely pays for these costs, but to be making nothing, because Ontario has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Canada, is very worrisome, experts say.
Luc Feitler, for example, said he has been searching for a part-time job for months, applying to more than 10 stores and receiving no call-backs.
“It’s hard to find a part-time job because not many places are hiring students and I don’t have much experience,” he said.
But some teenagers say if you want it bad enough, you’ll get a job.
“If you want a job badly enough, if you really needed a job, you could find one. There are buses that link Keswick with Sutton, so, if you don’t find one in one (town), you will in the other,” said Brian Stewart, adding he walked into one place, asked for a job and got it.
The question is being raised that perhaps there are opportunities for youth employment, but many just don’t know where to look or how to find them.
“I think you need to know the right people to know when jobs are available or you’ll miss the limited chances,” says one Georgina youth, who didn’t want his name used.
As technology advances and the costs of what youth deem necessities rise, it is imperative to be employing teenagers at a much higher rate.
The employment rate is increasing, but it hasn’t even made a dent in the unemployment world.