Bring Back Summer Jobs for Canadian Students – A Canada Job Expo Initiative

Our Students Are Being Left Behind

Today, young Canadians face unprecedented difficulty securing summer employment. In the very years when they should be developing work ethic, confidence, and experience, many are instead met with closed doors.

Even the Government of Canada’s own Job Bank, which promotes its support for student jobs, paints a troubling picture:

• As of today, there are fewer than 10 summer student jobs listed in the entire Greater Toronto Area.

• In all of Ontario, just 43 student jobs are posted.

• In all of Canada, a country of nearly 40 million only 370 student jobs are listed.

By contrast:

• Over 1,283 jobs in Ontario are posted for Temporary Foreign Workers.

• Over 3,500 jobs across Canada are open to Temporary Foreign Worker applicants.

We deeply value the contributions of newcomers and foreign workers, they are vital to our economy. But when our own youth are locked out of entry-level jobs that once built the foundation of our workforce, we must ask: Where is the balance? Where is the opportunity for our students?

For decades, summer jobs were a defining part of growing up in Canada. These seasonal roles gave students their first taste of responsibility, financial independence and the skills needed to navigate the world of work. They were more than paycheques, they were pathways to future success.

But that tradition is slipping away.

Canada Job Expo is Stepping In

Canada Job Expo is proud to be the first and only organization in Canada to formally recognize this growing problem  and take real, immediate action.

We’re launching a bold initiative to bring back summer jobs for Canadian students.

Any company that participates in a Canada Job Expo event and hires Canadian students for summer jobs will receive 50% OFF their booth space.

This is not just a discount. It’s a call to action – a tangible way for employers to invest in the next generation.

Why This is Vital

Hiring a student isn’t just filling a shift,  it’s providing mentorship, direction, and a spark that could ignite a future career. From customer service and trades to offices and community roles, giving a student their first opportunity means giving them a real head start in life.

Canada Job Expo is leading the way – We invite employers, government partners, and community leaders to join us in reviving this important Canadian tradition. Together, we can ensure that Canadian students are not forgotten, but empowered.

Be Part of the Solution

Register your company today. Hire Canadian students. Save 50%. Please use this inquiry form and mention ‘Summer Jobs Initiative’ in the inquiry. 
Let’s give our youth the chance they deserve and help build the future of Canada, one summer job at a time.

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P.S. Let’s Make Summer Jobs for Canadian Youth a Reality Again

Summer jobs are more than just a tradition , they are a lifeline to learning, growth, and economic participation for Canadian youth. As we face an alarming shortage of youth employment opportunities, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area, it’s crucial that we work together to reverse this trend.

Canada Job Expo is sounding the alarm  but more importantly, we’re acting on it. We are urging employers to prioritize Canadian student summer jobs by creating real opportunities for high school and post-secondary students. Whether it’s a position in retail, hospitality, customer service, tech, trades, or the nonprofit sector, every job counts.

By hiring students, you’re helping them develop transferable skills, build resumes, grow their networks, and start their professional journey with purpose. These entry-level jobs offer structure, mentorship, and a sense of contribution and that kind of opportunity can change a life.

This is especially important in a job market where competition is fierce and international applicants with open work permits are flooding entry-level positions. Without proactive support, our own youth are being locked out.

Let’s change the narrative. Let’s invest in the future workforce of Canada.

Canada Job Expo invites employers across the GTA and Ontario to stand with us in this mission. When you post student jobs or commit to hiring Canadian youth for summer jobs, you become part of a movement to restore a vital part of our national identity, giving kids a fair shot at their first job.

Sign up today at https://canadajobexpo.com/exhibitor-inquiry/ and get 50% off booth space when you hire students. Be the difference-maker. Hire Canadian youth. Bring back summer jobs!