Young people are facing a crisis of high unemployment. Here’s how the budget addresses that – CBC

Report on Canadian Federal Initiatives to Address Youth Unemployment in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Economic Context and Challenges to SDG 8

The Canadian federal government has announced a series of budgetary measures to combat rising youth unemployment, a critical issue impacting the nation’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Young Canadians are facing significant labour market challenges, including some of the highest unemployment rates in over a decade. This situation is compounded by several economic factors:

• Post-pandemic inflation and elevated cost of living.
• Rapid population growth outpacing job creation.
• The looming threat of a recession, which historically has a disproportionate impact on youth employment.
• Economic uncertainty stemming from international trade disputes.

These conditions directly challenge the achievement of SDG Target 8.6, which aims to substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET).

2.0 Strategic Investments in Decent Work and Skills Development (SDG 8 & SDG 4)

The government’s plan emphasizes direct job creation and skills enhancement, aligning with SDG 8 and SDG 4 (Quality Education). The key initiatives are designed to provide youth with relevant skills and work experience, fostering a transition into sustainable employment.

1. Canada Summer Jobs Program: An allocation of $594.7 million over two years is proposed to support the creation of 100,000 jobs for young people. This directly contributes to providing productive employment and decent work for youth.
2. Student Work Placement Program: A commitment of $635.2 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, will fund 55,000 work-integrated learning opportunities. This initiative supports SDG Target 4.4 by increasing the number of youth with relevant skills for employment through practical experience.
3. Union-Based Trades Training: An investment of $75 million over three years will expand training in the Red Seal Trades. This measure promotes vocational training, which is crucial for equipping young people with skills for in-demand jobs like carpentry, plumbing, and machinery operation, thereby supporting both quality education and economic growth.

3.0 Promoting Climate Action and Green Jobs (SDG 13 & SDG 8)

A targeted proposal directly links youth employment with climate resilience, addressing SDG 13 (Climate Action) and creating green jobs under SDG 8.

• Youth Climate Corps: This program, with an allocation of $40 million over two years, will provide paid skills training for young people. Participants will be trained to respond to climate emergencies and support community recovery and resilience efforts, building a skilled workforce dedicated to climate action.

4.0 Enhancing Inclusivity and Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10 & SDG 5)

The government’s strategy includes measures specifically aimed at reducing barriers to employment for vulnerable youth, in line with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy: With funding of $307.9 million over two years, this initiative will provide jobs, training, and wraparound supports such as mentorship and mental health counselling. The strategy explicitly targets young people facing employment barriers, including women and racialized groups, to promote their full economic inclusion.

5.0 Expert Analysis and Future Outlook

Economic experts acknowledge the government’s initiatives as a signal of awareness regarding the challenges faced by youth. However, concerns remain about the scale and sufficiency of these measures to achieve long-term SDG targets.

• Sufficiency of Investment: Some analysts describe the budget lines as “small promises,” suggesting that a more substantial investment is required to address the systemic issues preventing youth from launching careers and achieving economic stability.
• Systemic Integration: There is a call for deeper integration between the education system and the workforce to better equip young Canadians for future labour market demands, a key component for the sustained achievement of SDG 4 and SDG 8.
• Macroeconomic Risks: The most significant immediate action recommended by experts is the avoidance of a recession. Pervasive economic uncertainty and a lack of hiring present formidable barriers to youth labour market integration, potentially undermining the impact of the targeted programs. The long-term success of these initiatives is contingent on a stable and growing economic environment.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The article discusses government investments in skills training programs, work-integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students, and union-based training in trades. These initiatives are directly related to providing inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• This is the central theme of the article. The entire piece focuses on the crisis of high youth unemployment rates in Canada and the federal government’s plans to create jobs, promote skills training, and facilitate young people’s entry into the labour market. It addresses the need for full and productive employment and decent work for all, particularly for youth.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article mentions the “Youth Employment and Skills Strategy,” which specifically targets young people who face “employment barriers,” including groups like women and racialized people. This directly connects to the goal of reducing inequalities by empowering and promoting the social and economic inclusion of all.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The proposal for a “Youth Climate Corps” is explicitly mentioned. This program aims to train young people to respond to climate emergencies and strengthen community resilience, which is a direct action related to combating climate change and its impacts through education and capacity-building.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Under SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” The article’s focus on skills training programs, the Student Work Placement Program, and expanding training in the Red Seal Trades directly supports this target by aiming to equip young people with the practical skills needed for the current labour market.

Under SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.” The government’s entire plan, from summer jobs to skills strategies, is an effort to achieve productive employment for young people.
• Target 8.6: “By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.” Although the target year has passed, the article’s central issue—the high youth unemployment rate—and the proposed solutions are directly aligned with the ongoing objective of this target. The goal is to decrease the number of young Canadians who are unemployed and not in school or training programs.

Under SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.” The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which provides funding to programs for young people facing employment barriers such as women and racialized people, is a clear initiative aimed at achieving this target.

Under SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” The “Youth Climate Corps” program, designed to train young people to respond to climate emergencies, directly contributes to building human capacity for climate adaptation and response, aligning perfectly with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Youth unemployment rate: The article explicitly states that Canada is facing “some of the highest youth unemployment rates in more than a decade.” This rate is a direct indicator used to measure progress towards SDG Target 8.6.
• Number of work and training opportunities created: The article provides specific numbers for government programs, which serve as direct indicators of progress. These include:
  • “55,000 ‘work-integrated learning opportunities'” under the Student Work Placement Program (relevant to Target 4.4).
  • “100,000 jobs for youth next summer” through the Canada Summer Jobs program (relevant to Target 8.6).
• Number of youth trained in specific skills: While the article notes that for the “Youth Climate Corps,” “it’s not clear how many young people will benefit,” the number of participants trained would be the primary indicator for measuring the program’s impact on Target 13.3. Similarly, the number of young people benefiting from the trades training expansion would be an indicator for Target 4.4.
• Participation of specific demographic groups: The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy targets groups facing “employment barriers,” such as women and racialized people. An implied indicator would be the number or proportion of individuals from these groups who access and benefit from the funded programs, which would measure progress towards Target 10.2.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: cbc.ca