NEWS RELEASE

EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CANADA

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A summer job plays an important role in a young person’s life. It puts money in their pockets to help pay for education and living expenses, and also allows them to learn new skills, build confidence, and explore their career interests. That is why the Government of Canada supports the creation of thousands of meaningful summer jobs for youth each year through the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program.

Today, MP Lloyd Longfield, on behalf of the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, is reminding employers that the employer application period for CSJ 2025 is open. Employers from not-for-profit organizations and the public sector, as well as private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, can apply for funding until December 19, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. PST to hire youth next summer. Full-time jobs will become available starting on April 21, 2025.

Every year, the Government establishes national priorities for CSJ to reflect Canada’s diverse population and youth evolving needs. CSJ 2025 will prioritize employers who intend to hire youth with disabilities, Black and other racialized youth, Indigenous youth, 2SLGBTQI+ youth, youth in rural and remote areas and youth in official language minority communities. The program will also prioritize employers who offer opportunities in the housing construction sector or that are related to sustainable jobs and support climate change mitigation/adaptation or protect the natural environment.

In total, this funding will aim to support 70,000 summer jobs for youth across Canada.

In Guelph, local priorities will also focus on organizations supporting food insecurity, projects supporting not-for-profit organizations, programs supporting mental health and addictions challenges, projects that offer programs and/or support to seniors as well as organizations supporting childcare and early learning.

Employers interested in applying for CSJ 2025 funding can submit their applications electronically via the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) portal. Creating a GCOS account is a one-time process that allows organizations to apply for various funding opportunities with Employment and Social Development Canada in a secure web environment.

Quotes

“With so many young people striving to find their place in the workforce, the Canada Summer Jobs program is a vital stepping stone. It’s more than just a way to earn money over the summer—it’s an opportunity for youth to take their first steps into the job market, gain meaningful experience in their chosen fields, and build the skills and confidence they need to shape a successful future. Programs like this empower the next generation to unlock their potential and create lasting impacts in their communities and beyond.”

– The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth 

“Setting our youth up for success now and in the future is critical to ensure the next generations have the tools to get ahead in today’s competitive job markets. The CSJ program is designed to respond to employment needs for both employers and the youth of today.”

– Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph

Quick facts

To help youth in Canada pursue and achieve their dreams, the Government is investing to create 90,000 youth job placements and employment support opportunities. As indicated in Budget 2024, the Government proposes to provide $351.2 million in 2025–26 for the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. These investments in youth job opportunities include:

• $200.5 million in 2025–26 for CSJ, to provide well-paying summer job opportunities, including in sectors facing critical labour shortages, such as housing construction.
• $150.7 million in 2025–26 for the horizontal Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program, to provide job placements and employment supports to youth.

Since 2020, CSJ has supported employers to create more than 383,000 job opportunities for youth. CSJ 2023 surpassed its 70,000 jobs target, with 74,500 jobs created. CSJ 2023 surpassed its 70,000 jobs target, with 74,500 jobs created. Results are still being finalized for CSJ 2024, but the Department is on track to meet its job target of 70,000 jobs.”

In a survey of CSJ youth participants for 2023, 92% of youth reported having more confidence in multiple skills needed for future employment than they had at the beginning of their CSJ work experience, and 89% of youth indicated that they had developed a positive attitude about their future employment prospects.

The unemployment rate for 15-to-29-year-olds in October 2024 (both student and non-student) was 12.8%. However, for under-represented groups, these rates tend to be higher.

CSJ-funded positions will be posted to Job Bank starting in April 2025, and will continue until July 21, 2025.

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