Post-secondary students in Ontario are struggling as youth unemployment continues to rise, pushing many to turn to the University of Guelph-Humber’s work-study program for job opportunities

 

Post-secondary students across Ontario are grappling with a shortage of available jobs. Youth unemployment rates in the province have reached a soaring 13.5 per cent according to Statistics Canada. This is the highest youth unemployment rate Canada has seen since September 2014, outside of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Toronto alone, youth unemployment rates are above the national average at 16.8 per cent in April. So, what does that mean for University of Guelph-Humber students? Many have turned to the university’s work-study program for employment opportunities.

Whether you’re a new post-secondary student, returning student or university alumni, you may have experienced the struggle of finding work amidst the current job market. Many students have even reported making it to the interview process, but never hearing back from employers.

Rhyzza Gumban is a student who works on-campus as a senior Student Transition and Resource Team (START) leader. Gumban describes her experience with the current job market. “I can’t guarantee to land an interview or get a response back, having slim chances in getting employed for a job off-campus. Whenever I meet someone who’s looking for a job with no past experience, I always suggest to look into on-campus positions for better luck in the job market.”

Gumban’s suggestion aligns with the school’s work-study program, which hires several students each term and allows for a more flexible work schedule with minimal travel time between class and work. This allows students to continue to prioritize their studies during their employment. The program is available for students of all years at both the University of Guelph-Humber and Humber Polytechnic.

Kristine Latincic, a registrarial services associate at the university explains the requirements for the work-study program. “So, it’s based off their Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) application and the amount of funding that they receive from the provincial government. Based off that they’ll be eligible or not to work as a work-study student.”

Once students meet the eligibility criteria, they can explore various part-time employment opportunities across campus. This includes: athletics, tech services, peer tutoring, student residence, academic offices, campus touring, computer labs, career and placement services, financial services, public safety and alumni services.

It isn’t hard for students to access these job opportunities. Gumban said, “I found it accessible to get an on-campus role at Guelph-Humber. All campus positions were located in one platform and it was very convenient trying to find the jobs I was interested in applying. It made the application process so much easier.”

That platform is called GH Works and is used as a one-stop website for all on-campus job opportunities. Additionally, the platform provides job postings for both part-time and full-time off-campus jobs.

The work-study program at the university offers the student body a valuable lifeline during this current labour market crisis, and according to Gumban, “it’s important for the work-study program to exist because it gives students the opportunity to branch out with or without job experience and work on their job skills that can be beneficial beyond graduation.”