For young people in London, Ontario, finding a summer job has become increasingly difficult. Some have submitted dozens — and in some cases hundreds — of applications without receiving an interview.
According to recent Statistics Canada labour force data, London had the third-highest youth unemployment rate among major metropolitan areas surveyed in Canada, with unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 reaching 22.2 per cent in May 2026. That was a significant increase from 15 per cent in January.
Behind those numbers are young people trying to gain their first work experience, earn money for school and personal expenses, and, in some cases, help support their families.
A Difficult Job Search
Sixteen-year-old John Alimasi has spent months searching for summer employment. He has handed out resumes to restaurants and shopping malls across London but had not received a response from an employer at the time of CBC’s reporting.
Alimasi and his family moved to London from South Africa about a year ago. While he would like to earn money for things such as a new phone and an Xbox, his priorities have become more serious.
His mother has also been unable to find work in the city, and Alimasi feels a responsibility to help support his family.
“I’m the oldest from the entire family,” he said. “It’s my responsibility as the oldest to look for a job in order to help my family out.”
His experience illustrates how unemployment can affect young people beyond their own financial circumstances. For some youth, finding a job is not simply about gaining experience or having spending money. It can also be about contributing to household expenses and helping their families manage difficult economic circumstances.
Hundreds of Applications, Few Interviews
The challenges facing young job seekers are also being felt by organizations that provide employment support.
Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) has seen a record number of young people seeking assistance with finding work, according to employment services manager Tyler Paget.
The organization supports people between the ages of 15 and 30 with education and employment services.
Paget said some young people report applying for jobs 100, 200, or even 500 times without receiving an interview.
The competition has also become more intense for employers. A recent job posting at YOU received approximately 100 to 150 applications, whereas Paget said that in previous years, receiving 50 applications for one youth position would have been considered a large number.
With so many applicants competing for relatively few positions, young people can find themselves repeatedly applying without receiving meaningful feedback.
The Impact Goes Beyond Money
The prolonged job search can also affect young people’s confidence and well-being.
Agnes Ronan, a 26-year-old Fanshawe College student, lives with her parents to help manage expenses. After the school semester ended, she began applying for jobs online but eventually became discouraged.
Ronan described struggling with motivation and her mental health during the job search.
“When you have no money and no job, you feel awful, you feel tired every day,” she said.
Her situation highlights how unemployment can create a cycle of frustration. Young people need employment to gain experience and confidence, but without previous experience, it can become harder to compete for available positions.
Why the First Job Matters
For young people entering the workforce, that first job can be particularly important.
It provides more than a paycheque. It can offer references, practical skills, workplace experience, professional connections, and confidence that can help a young person pursue future opportunities.
Paget warned that the longer young people go without their first employment experience, the more difficult it can become for them to remain confident and continue pursuing that goal.
This makes access to entry-level opportunities especially important during a difficult labour market.
Practical Ways to Stand Out
Despite the challenging conditions, employment specialists say there are steps young people can take to improve their chances.
Paget recommends that job seekers consider meeting hiring managers in person where possible. Speaking directly with employers can give applicants an opportunity to explain their skills and interests rather than relying entirely on an online application.
Young people can also tailor their resumes and cover letters to individual job postings instead of submitting the same application everywhere.
Building relationships is another important strategy. Reaching out to friends, family members, teachers, community organizations, and other contacts can help young people learn about opportunities that may not be widely advertised.
For those who use artificial intelligence to help prepare resumes or cover letters, Paget recommends carefully reviewing the final documents. Applicants should make sure that information is accurate and that there are no errors involving dates, formatting, or other important details.
Employers Also Have a Role
While young people can take steps to strengthen their applications, the responsibility for improving youth employment opportunities does not rest entirely on job seekers.
Employers also have an important role to play by considering applicants who may not meet every requirement listed for an entry-level position.
Practical experience, enthusiasm, transferable skills, and a willingness to learn can be valuable qualities, particularly for young people who are trying to secure their first opportunity.
If employers require extensive previous experience for every entry-level position, young people can become trapped in a cycle where they cannot gain experience because they cannot get the opportunity to begin.
The Importance of Community Support
The challenges facing London’s youth demonstrate why employment services, community organizations, educational institutions, families, and employers all have a role to play.
Organizations such as Youth Opportunities Unlimited can provide guidance and help young people navigate an increasingly competitive labour market. Community networks can connect youth with opportunities, while employers can create meaningful pathways into the workforce.
For newcomers and youth from racialized communities, strong community networks can be particularly valuable in helping them navigate unfamiliar labour markets and build professional connections.
Creating those connections can make the difference between a young person continuing to search alone and finding someone who can help open the next door.
Young People Are Still Trying
Despite the discouragement, young people across London continue to apply, learn, adapt, and look for opportunities.
Their persistence is important because employment is about more than the immediate income. It is also about developing skills, building confidence, establishing networks, and creating a foundation for future opportunities.
The current unemployment figures show that young people are facing a difficult labour market, but they also highlight the importance of ensuring that those entering the workforce are not left behind.
Helping young people find that first opportunity requires more than individual determination. It requires employers willing to give newcomers a chance, organizations ready to provide support, and communities prepared to help young people build the connections they need to succeed.
As London’s youth continue to navigate a challenging employment landscape, their determination is a reminder that the search for opportunity does not end with a rejected application. With the right support and meaningful opportunities, today’s job seekers can become tomorrow’s skilled workers, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and professionals.