Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1463 - Youth Unemployment with Dan McCarthy and Murray Simser

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Dan McCarthy and Murray Simser. Dan  and Murray highlight the alarming rise of youth unemployment in their article Generation At Risk: Youth Jobs And Canada’s Economic Future. Statistics Canada reports this summer’s job market for returning students is the 3rd worst since 1976, with unemployment for students reaching 18% and some youth groups nearing 25%. Only 1997 and the Covid year of 2020 were worse. Factors driving this crisis include a weak economy, Trump tariffs, manufacturing layoffs, competition from foreign workers, and the impact of AI on entry-level jobs. Murray stresses the government’s response has been slow despite unprecedented levels of youth joblessness, while Dan notes programs like the Youth Employment Skills and Training Initiative fall far short of the scale required. With 920,000 young Canadians not engaged in education, training, or work, urgent action is needed. As Styx sang in Crystal Ball: “I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me. Or am I even in its mind at all?” For today’s youth, that question is more sobering than ever.