A few clouds with some rays of sunshine in the high school job market this summer

The long-awaited day has finally arrived. High school’s out for summer—and for some, forever! Some teens will be making their first foray into the job market in the coming days. Let’s take a look at how the labour landscape for Canadian youth aged 15 to 19 is shaping up heading into the summer of 2024.

Tougher job market to crack for high school students this summer

Job prospects for high school students aged 15 to 19 in the summer of 2024 are not quite as sunny as last year.

In May, the most recent month for which data are available, just under half (48.8%) of the 2.2 million Canadian youth aged 15 to 19 were in the labour market, with 40.4% working and one in seven (17.1%) unemployed.

Job prospects were a little better in May 2023, when over half (51.0%) of youth aged 15 to 19 were actively participating in the labour market, with 43.8% working and 14.2% unemployed.

In May 2024, female youth aged 15 to 19 were more likely than their male counterparts to be actively participating in the workforce (49.8% versus 47.8%) and employed (41.3% versus 39.5%) and less likely to be unemployed (17.0% versus 17.3%).

Fewer job vacancies

The job vacancy rate was lower this March (the most recent month for which data are available) than 12 months earlier in accommodation and food services (5.0% versus 7.6%), retail trade (2.9% versus 4.2%) and arts, entertainment and recreation (4.3% versus 4.5%).

Wages up from a year earlier in a few key summer job sectors

While the summer job market may have a few more clouds than a year earlier, wages are looking up in a few key sectors.

Looking at sectors that typically employ youth over the summer months, the highest weekly earnings (including overtime) for all employees this March were at recreational vehicle parks and recreational camps ($773.18), traveller accommodation ($646.17) and special food services places such as banquet halls, cafeterias or caterers ($547.53).

Conversely, employees at amusement parks and arcades ($480.65) and full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places ($464.87) were making less than $500 a week.

In March, employees at recreational vehicle parks and recreational camps were making $69.38 more a week compared with 12 months earlier, while those working at special food services places were making $61.26 more.

Conversely, those working in traveller accommodation were making $8.40 less a week.