Provided by Edmonton Journal
Anaiah Talma, 17, has done the calculations.
To achieve a law degree, she’s looking at a minimum seven years in university and an estimated tab of $110,000.
It’s an intimidating figure to be sure, but the number that has her even more concerned at the moment is $0.
That represents the success she’s had in the last three months finding a job that will help cut down her student loan burden.
Talma has been seeking waitressing positions mainly but she’s also applied at retail shops, mall venues and big box stores. She’s applied through email, internet sites and in person, to the point that she feels like half the city has her resume now.
Nothing has worked out, and she’s not alone. Among her friends, only about 20 per cent have been hired.
“I really have no idea what’s going on,” Talma told me. “It seems maybe employers want us to have more experience, but you can’t get experience if you don’t have a job.”
To say Talma’s predicament is representative of a widespread issue this summer is something of an understatement. And it’s certainly been raised through our Groundwork research.
Statistics Canada numbers from June showed an of 18.1 per cent for Albertans between the ages of 15 the highest rate for youth in Canada.
The jump in the percentage was in part due to an influx of young people entering the job market.
You might think this would be matched by an influx of jobs, particularly as Alberta was the first province in Canada to lift COVID restrictions. And anecdotally at least, a number of employers do seem to be crying out for workers.
Yet the unemployment figures, and the experiences of young people like Talma, suggest a different story. Exactly what’s behind this strange disconnect is hard to pinpoint, but a number of factors seem to be contributing.
On the labour side, those I spoke with note a certain wariness or pickiness occurring when it comes to job choices.
Joe MacKay, owner of said lingering apprehension has some prospective workers adopting a “wait and see” attitude — especially among those who have previously been laid off.
“The idea of starting a job, there’s some worry about, ‘Will things get shut down again? Will I lose my EI benefits?’” said MacKay, whose company teaches job search skills.
Video: How Edmonton is attracting young talent to boost its economy (cbc.ca)
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