A Summer Without a Paycheque
For many high school students across the Greater Toronto Area, the 2025 summer job hunt has been a source of stress, rejection, and disappointment. Despite early applications, resume workshops, and multiple interviews, a large number of teens are heading into August without a single shift worked.
The problem? It’s not just a matter of motivation — it’s a complex mix of rising competition, fewer entry-level roles, and a workforce increasingly tilted toward experienced candidates.
“Looking for Experience, Not Potential”
According to youth employment counselors, one of the biggest barriers for students is a contradiction at the heart of today’s job market: employers want experience — but won’t provide the opportunity to gain it.
“Teens are being asked to show up with customer service credentials, references, and certifications that are hard to get unless you’ve already worked,” said one youth worker at a Toronto employment centre. “We’re not seeing a job market designed to build first-time workers anymore.”
Missed Opportunity — and Growing Gaps
The summer job drought carries consequences that stretch beyond a missed paycheque. Work experience builds soft skills, supports independence, and strengthens post-secondary and job applications. Without these opportunities, many students — especially those from low-income or newcomer families — are left further behind.
“Summer jobs used to be a leveller,” said a parent in Scarborough. “Now they feel like another area where well-connected kids win and others fall through the cracks.”
What Needs to Change?
Experts are calling for renewed investment in youth-targeted employment programs. While some initiatives exist — like the Canada Summer Jobs program and a few municipal youth work programs — demand far outstrips supply. This summer, many students reported job boards that were either empty or flooded with older applicants.
Some advocates say it’s time for a broader rethink:
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Should more small businesses receive incentives to hire teens?
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Could school boards partner with local employers to build pre-apprenticeship or work-integrated learning models for high schoolers?
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What role can programs like Wealthsimple’s Launchpad play in building alternatives to traditional summer jobs?
A Call for Action
As September nears, many GTA teens will return to school without the confidence, earnings, or resume boost that summer employment brings. The moment is ripe for change.
If Ontario is serious about preparing its next generation for the workforce, that work must start sooner — and summer can’t be a missed opportunity.
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