Youth Unemployment
Youth UnemploymentYouth unemployment causes trouble to everyone. Some people don’t care about youth unemployment . However it is a major problem in Canada caused mainly by the lack of education that the youths are receiving and the lack of jobs that are available.
High unemployment amongst youth is directly related to the lack of education, training, and skills. High school dropouts are four times more likely to be unemployed as those students that have completed four or more years of college. High school graduates earned $242 more a week than high school dropouts in 1994. Minimum wage jobs may be easy to find , but they may not provide enough pay to meet your needs and they won’t provide enough to support a family. Those who have completed four or more years of post-secondary education earn $300 a week more than a person with just a high school education. That is $15, 600 a year more. Three quarters of those under the age of 25 who have received unemployment insurance have no post -secondary education. Today’s jobs require a higher level of education and skill , the employment prospects for these young people could continue to decline. It is predicted that all jobs created between 1990 and 2000 will require more than sixteen years of education. This number will keep on rising in the future. The unemployment rate for high school drop out’s is more than double the rate for university graduates. People that enter the labour market without any extra training or post-secondary education have a tremendous chance of being unemployed. Companies are hiring the most skilled and experienced workers, letting go workers with less experience, usually youth. Youth with the least amount of experience are usually the last people that are hired. Where do you get experience and skills from; post-secondary education. The hardest hit youth group in the 1990’s by far have been those with only a high school education or less. For them in 1995 there was 997, 000 less jobs than 1990, this number has been increasing dramatically. In just about every case the more experienced worker will get hired.
The present education system is doing a good job at providing students with the tools to gain employment. The government and business are not doing a good job to help provide opportunities for employment. The goals of the education system must remain as they have always been, that is, to teach us how to read, write, analyze, grow, create, and build. We must strive to get the youth to think for themselves. These are the most important skills to bring to the job market. There are some improvements that the government can do on the education system, but it would require some investment in teachers, resources, technology, buildings, and student development. University and college investments, research, and development must be a priority in order to keep many young Canadians competitive. The government must get a more affordable post-secondary education system. Students must not always be faced with the decision of whether to apply for a student loan because the worry that they might not be able to pay it back. The government must expand the child care system so young parents can go and get a good education.
Most youths are working part time jobs while they attend post-secondary education or that is the only position they can find available for them. Part time jobs are not very stable, generally there are no benefits available, and there is not that much money involved. The chances for many young people to move past these jobs are bleak, especially with the spread of technological unemployment. Youth make up just about half of the people working part time jobs.
The government is trying to help with this problem by forming the Public Policy Forum. The Forum is made up of members of the CGA-Canada, CIBC, HRDC, and hundreds of Canada’s leaders from the public, private, labor, and voluntary sectors. The goal is to create awareness and calls on youth employment. The government is also addressing the situation by a “Stay in School” program and the “Youth Internship” program. These programs are incomplete solutions for Canada’s rapidly growing economy.
In 1997, the government of Canada gave $90 million to a committee of federal participation in Career Edge, a private sector consortium that provides internships of up to one year for job seekers needing work experience in new careers. This new program will provide internships in the federal public sector for 3000 people aged 15 to 30 over three years at an annual maximum of $15, 000.
Youth entrepreneurship is one area where employment support can be provided to youths. There is a growing interest among young Canadians in pursuing an entrepreneurial, self-employment initiative.
Youth unemployment remains a major problem that requires urgent policy attention. The problem hasn’t just arrived, but aged with the baby boomers. In 1983, when the peak of the baby boomers was under 25, the unemployment rate among workers under 25 averaged 20%, and there was more than 600, 000 young unemployed job seekers; over 50% more than today.
Youth unemployment will remain a crisis as long as our government continually choose not to take an active role in the emerging economy. The government must ensure our young people have the best possible opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge needed to lead productive and self sufficient lives.
Youth unemployment is caused by the lack of education and the lack of jobs available in our country. Everyone should care about the high rates of youth unemployment, since we are the future of the country. Youth unemployment effects everyone.