College and University Students Still Having Trouble Finding Summer Jobs
Canada’s college and university students are finding an extremely cold summer job market this summer. Statistics Canada recently reported that the unemployment rate in July was 17.4% for students aged 15-24. No improvement from last year’s similarly dismal numbers.
“Despite some minor gains in the job market since the recession, student employment remains too high,” said Roxanne Dubois, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students.
“The federal government has failed to provide necessary student employment support, and with tuition fees continuing to rise because of lack of funding, student debt will continue to increase unsustainably.”
The market is even tougher for younger students, with students aged 17 to 19 accounting for an 17.6 per cent unemployment rate.
“Younger students, who are just starting their studies, are facing very grim employment prospects and a precarious financial situation,” said Dubois.
“We are reaching the end of the summer and many students have still not found work,” said Dubois.
Canada’s students face an average domestic tuition fee of almost $5,000 per year, and owe near $15 billion in student debt to the federal government alone.
“Students who have been unlucky in their job hunt this summer will face difficult choices this September given record-high tuition fees.”
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