Once renowned for its promise of opportunity and prosperity, Canada is fast becoming a shadow of its former self as its job market is experiencing a squeeze.
A recent surge in immigration, according to local sources, led to Canada’s fastest population growth in 67 years, creating a competitive, stiff landscape for employment.
The rising unemployment wave is impacting a large percentage of young people, especially international students who make up over 1 million residing in Canada.
With many now facing restrictions as they struggle to find work, social media is flooded with images of lengthy queues forming outside businesses, even for positions like cashier, cleaners, and sales representatives.
Speaking on the fierce competition for basic jobs, international students Dhvani Malik, a UBC student, described the situation as “stressful” due to Vancouver’s affordability crisis and dwindling job opportunities.
Read more: Seeking jobs abroad isn’t an option for young Nigerians: they don’t have the right skills
With rising rents and living costs on top of high tuition fees, Malik noted that many students now juggle multiple part-time jobs and face tough choices like forgoing groceries at times.
Canada’s unemployment rate surged to 6.1% in March, with youth unemployment skyrocketing to twice the national average, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.
While the development has sparked concerns about the economic prospects of young Canadians and international immigrants alike, the upward trend is linked, at least in part, to the country’s rapid population growth.
In a recent housing announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the potential downsides of his government’s focus on high immigration levels.
Also read: Canada’s Unemployment Down to 8.9 per cent
Citing a jump in temporary residents from 2% to 7.5% of the population since 2017, Trudeau stated the need to “get back under control” of the situation.
“We want to get those numbers down,” he stated. “It’s a responsible approach to immigration that continues on our permanent residents, as we have, but also hold the line a little more on the temporary immigration that has caused so much pressure in our communities.”
Trudea’s public admission and statement may suggest a possible shift in policy as the government deals with the unintended consequences of its approach to labour shortages.
