Latest job numbers show youth unemployment is approaching a boiling point in Ontario

QUEEN’S PARK – Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Catherine Fife (Waterloo); and Shadow Minister for Finance and Treasury Board, Jessica Bell (University–Rosedale), issued the following statement after new labour force data showed Ontario’s unemployment rate rose to 7.6 per cent, with an alarming 672,400 people unemployed:

“Doug Ford keeps saying Ontario is doing great, but one of the most alarming numbers in today’s report is youth unemployment,” said Fife. “When young people are losing jobs and can’t find work, it’s a warning sign that the economy isn’t working for the next generation.”

“Ontario should be leading the country in job creation,” said Bell. “Instead, we’re losing jobs in major economic sectors, from manufacturing to retail to hospitality. Where is Doug Ford’s jobs plan?”

“This plan should start with major investments in public services and infrastructure, from hospitals to transit, that improve the services people rely on and create thousands of good jobs,” added Fife. “And it means much stronger Buy Ontario, Build Ontario rules so governments and public agencies use their buying power to support Ontario and Canadian employers,” concluded Bell.