Job creation strategies must tackle youth unemployment: CAW

TORONTO—Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union president Ken Lewenza is calling the drop in youth unemployment a positive sign, but urged government to prioritize tackling chronic joblessness among young workers.

Lewenza’s comments come in response to the November Labour Force Survey results released by Statistics Canada, which showed a drop in youth unemployment from 14.7 per cent to 14 per cent.

Lewenza said that although the drop in youth unemployment is encouraging, the rate still stands “stubbornly” high at nearly double the national average of 7.2 per cent.

“The last three years have demonstrated that without action, this problem of youth unemployment will not improve,” Lewenza said in a statement.

Lewenza said young workers “are being left behind,” which he warns will have serious ramifications for years to come.

“Governments at all levels must develop strategies alongside industry and unions to take on chronically high levels of youth unemployment,” he said. “Young workers are among the best educated at any time in our national history, but job prospects are insufferably poor.

“We need a national good jobs strategy for young workers.”