Unemployment among teens has risen from 14.9 per cent in 2019 to 22.2 per cent in 2025. However, students can still make themselves more employable by learning new skills.Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
A summer job is a rite of passage for many teens. But it’s been harder and harder for young people to find work lately.
Anecdotally, there is a lot of competition for jobs, and without knowing someone or having an “in,” it’s hard to land a summer position. The statistics confirm this: Unemployment among 15-to-19-year-olds has risen from 14.9 per cent in 2019 to 22.2 per cent in 2025.
For those already in college or university, a full-time summer job lasts four months, and at about $17 an hour, that’s more than $10,000 in earnings. Needless to say, that can make a real dent in the cost of an education.
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High school students who work in July and August can earn about $5,000. That’s money they can save for their postsecondary years.
But without a job – or enough hours – paying for school becomes that much more difficult.
Still, there are things students can do to boost their future finances by making themselves more employable and by learning new skills. Here are some ideas.
Get certified. Certifications are great resumé boosters because they demonstrate initiative and can lead to new job opportunities. Students can take a first aid course, get a lifeguarding certification or, for younger teens, take the babysitting course.
Learn an employable skill. Teenagers are good at picking up new skills, and the internet provides unlimited learning tools. Becoming proficient with spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets and presentation programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides will give them something to add to their resumé. Some kids will enjoy learning how to use programs such as Blender, Photoshop and SketchUp. Learning how to build websites can be valuable – and could lead to part-time work.
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Volunteer. Any kind of volunteer work looks great on a resumé. It’s a chance to learn new skills and, of course, help out. By getting out of the house and interacting with others, students can build a network – and the more people who know they are looking for work, the better the chance they will hear about an opportunity. There are lots of places looking for volunteers – food banks, retirement homes, summer camps.
Get their driver’s licence. Driving is a life skill that provides more flexibility and makes you more employable down the road. Summer downtime is a good opportunity to work through the classroom or online learning required by driving schools and to practise on the road.
Learn to cook. Knowing how to cook is a huge money saver and an essential life skill. Think of the money a student can save by cooking a simple meal rather than ordering takeout through Uber Eats. For instance, a twice-weekly order at $20 a pop adds up to almost $1,300 over the course of an eight-month school year. Learning a handful of cheap and easy meals such as fajitas, stir fry, chili, pasta and casseroles will save a student tons of money.
Take a money management course. Understanding basic money skills can have a huge impact on your future financial security. Knowing the basics means you can take advantage of the various tax-advantaged accounts, stay on top of debt and invest savings. There are plenty of resources out there. One excellent course is provided by McGill University in partnership with The Globe and Mail and RBC. It’s a free, online, self-directed course that is broken down into eight sections covering all kinds of topics, including budgeting and saving, investing, debt, real estate and even behaviour finance.
Anita Bruinsma is a Toronto-based financial coach and a parent of two teenage boys. You can find her at Clarity Personal Finance.
