Windsor plots its way out of being Canada’s youth unemployment capital

Article content

When it comes to youth unemployment in Canada, nowhere else beats Windsor, but a new initiative rolling out in March hopes to change that dismal ranking.

A year-long study to tackle the issue has produced a number of suggestions aimed at lowering the Windsor area’s position of having Canada’s highest unemployment rate among youths (15 to 24 years old) in 2024.

Article content

“The biggest reason we found for youth unemployment is they’re finding it difficult to find that first job when more employers are wanting experience,” said Mikal Fakhreddin, project coordinator and research analyst at Workforce WindsorEssex and author of the Youth Employment Strategy Plan.

“No one is giving them a chance, so they can’t get the experience to get in.”

Fakhreddin said young people are also competing with more workers who are over-qualified for the entry-level jobs they’re seeking.

The study was a result of a combined effort by Workforce WindsorEssex, the United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex Chatham-Kent and a 26-member Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), and supported through an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.

Thirty-one community groups were also consulted to understand the scope of resources available for youth.

The local youth unemployment rate was 18.2 per cent in 2024, or 1.6 percentage points higher than the provincial average. Youths were also three times more likely to be unemployed than those over 25 years of age, who had a 6.3 per cent unemployment rate.

Article content

Among those aged 15 to 24, the highest local unemployment rates are for Chinese men and Black women (both 30 per cent) and Arab women (29 per cent). There’s also about a 10 per cent gender gap with 25 per cent of male youths unable to find employment compared to about 15 per cent for females.

Fakhreddin said contributing factors to youth unemployment are the lack of knowledge about the local jobs in demand, salary structure and credentials required. Members of the Youth Advisory Committee also admitted they lacked self-confidence and soft skills in selling themselves to employers.

The Youth Advisory Committee also highlighted some support challenges facing young workers, particularly those from racialized and low-income groups.

“Those youths require stability in their life before they go looking for employment,” Fakhreddin said. “The lack of resources like housing and transportation are extra barriers they face.”

Fakhreddin said the $200,000 in Trillium funding for the two-year program will now allow for the implementation of some of the solutions in the report.

Article content

Among steps being taken will be creation of an electronic device donation program. Used and donated computers, phones and other electronic gear will help those without such digital tools to connect to the resources required in the hunt for jobs.

A landing page on the internet will be the first step towards creating a Youth Jobs Portal Page that was listed as the YAC’s top priority.

The portal will be an online site specifically aimed and designed to engage youth jobseekers. It’ll list jobs, employment info, links to gaining valuable certifications and other job-related resources.

The third program to kick off is an employment presentation program aimed at schools to help educate students on in-demand jobs, soft-skills development, financial literacy and a youth advertising guide to help employers go to where their potential employees can be found.

Fakhreddin said the strategy is also aimed at involving the community.

Article content

“One of the community solutions the youth advisory committee highlighted were changes to the youth bus pass,” Fakhreddin said.

“Transit Windsor has a youth pass, but it’s only for those 13 to 18 and they’d like to see that age range extended into the mid-20s.

“They’re alright with the price, but they like to see more buying options. Perhaps for a semester or different time lengths.”

Other proposed solutions include employer/educator information events and a youth job seekers club. The club would be a regular meeting space for youths seeking work, mentors and employers.

[email protected]

Twitter.com/winstarwaddell

Article content