Published 1 day ago • loading... • Updated 11 hours ago

Rising costs and dwindling opportunities have Canada’s youth feeling adrift

On Dec. 16, 2025, The Canadian Press reported young Canadians say they struggle in a job market with youth unemployment at 14 and rising prices blocking adulthood markers.
Housing data show rising rents in downtown Toronto pushed costs, while the time to save for a 20 per cent down payment increased from five years to nearly 14 years, Generation Squeeze found.
Four months and 50 applications illustrate Lauren Hood, 21-year-old political studies graduate, struggling while an unnamed employer closed its portal after more than 450 resumes amid rising AI use.
Leaving Canada for work, some young people delay labour-force entry by staying in school longer and relying on debt, with Toronto-born PR entrepreneur Osobe Waberi moving to Oman earlier this year on a two-year permit.
Amid broader policy shifts, Ottawa opened immigration to meet labour demand but has since tempered flows, while Desjardins found youth unemployment resembles a recession amid U.S. trade pressures.

Insights by Ground AI