Author: Benjamin Lopez Steven Victoria Valido

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu announced Friday afternoon the federal government is creating up to 6,000 more spots in the Canada Summer Jobs program for young people — a move that comes as many struggle to find work.”This is late breaking news, but I think super important to be able to help with the sort of urgency this summer,” Hajdu said in an interview with CBC’s The House airing Saturday morning.According to a news release, the federal government is reallocating $25 million from Employment and Social Development Canada to create the extra 6,000 jobs. The release also said CSJ was “on track” to create 70,000 jobs for youths this summer.The unemployment rate for people between 15 and 24 years old has steadily ticked upward, according to Statistics Canada. In January 2023, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in this age group was 10 per cent. In May 2025, it was 14.2 per cent.Mel Purchase, a 19-year-old from Alliston, Ont., said she’s been driving around submitting her resumé to temp agencies “and just hope for the best, and hope they can figure something out to help me.”The unemployment rate for young people has been steadily ticking upward.