Young Workers Being Left Behind: CLC President Comments on Job Numbers for July 2012

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 10, 2012) - The Canadian Labour Congress says that too many young workers are unemployed and they risk being left behind in a Canadian economy that looks increasingly sluggish.

Ken Georgetti, CLC President, was commenting on the release by Statistics Canada of its Labour Force Survey for July 2012. "Far too many of our young workers are unemployed or stuck in dead end jobs, and Ottawa should be paying more attention to them."

According to Statistics Canada, there were 1,377,000 unemployed Canadians in July and the unemployment rate was 7.3%. In the 15 to 24 age group, unemployment stood at 14.3 % and 46.9% of young workers are employed only part-time.

"Many young workers come out of school or training programs with high levels of debt and then cannot find jobs," says Georgetti. "If these levels of unemployment persist, we are going to sacrifice a whole generation of young people and that is a shame."

The CLC has consistently called on Ottawa to devise a strategy that would assist in providing full-time and secure employment for young workers by providing training and apprenticeship opportunities.

Georgetti adds that the Employment Insurance system is failing many workers in all age groups. "More than six out of 10 unemployed Canadians don't get Employment Insurance at all because the rules make it difficult for them to qualify. These people are left to their own devices because the rules of the program are rigged against them."

Quick Analysis from CLC Senior Economist Angella MacEwen

Employment was down by 30,000 in July, with the unemployment rate rising to 7.3% (up from 7.2% in June). The job losses were concentrated in wholesale and retail trade, and among women aged 55 and over. Employment among 15-24 year olds is down 52,000 over 12 months ago, but the unemployment rate fell to 14.3% as fewer youth looked for work.

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.3 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada's national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 130 district labour councils. Web site: www.canadianlabour.ca Follow us on Twitter @CanadianLabour