Let’s take a look at some projections made by Statistics Canada in 2008 (Some facts about the demographic and ethnocultural composition of the population-Aging-Figure 24 & 25, 2008) -
- There are potentially more people aged 55 to 64 years, who are leaving the workforce than people aged 15 to 24 years entering it.
- By the mid-2010s, people aged 45 to 64 years will comprise approximately more than 42% of the working-age population.
Proportion of persons aged 45 to 64 years in the working-age population (15 to 64 years) in Canada, 1956 to 2056
It’s apparent that the millennials need to build up on the work experience front, having acquired the education in their chosen fields, in order to take over from the baby boomer work force.
So how are they doing so far? These YouTube videos tell the story of some graduates’ plight with getting a foot in the door and how they've used social media to better their situation.
Video 1: "Millennials plug away in their chosen field and look for that ideal job online using email, Facebook and job search websites." A networking event requiring face-to-face interaction, the old school way, helped with building a network that kept this struggling graduate connected digitally leading up to an interview and a full time job in Public Relations. While a college degree is a best defence against a recession, President Barak Obama urged graduates to keep gaining new skills and new degrees, and to be prepared to adapt and take risks.
Another Architecture graduate lost his job due to the recession. His version of 'thinking outside the box' involved signing up for the military. While serving in Iraq, he took online courses towards a Masters in Exercise Science, to be a trainer, once his tour of duty was up.
(NEED TO KNOW | Generation jobless: 'Millennials' struggle with unemployment | PBS, 2010)
Videos 2 & 3:
A 25 year old Master’s Degree in Environmental Science created a vblog expressing what she has been facing in finding the job that in her field. She has since found employment the following year.
A 25 year old Master’s Degree in Environmental Science created a vblog expressing what she has been facing in finding the job that in her field. She has since found employment the following year.
(I Am Over-Educated and Unemployed, 2011)
(I Am No Longer Over-educated and Unemployed, 2012)
Videos 4, 5 & 6:
- Straddled with student debt for expensive university tuition
- Low credit scores
- Moving back home to manage poor cash flow
- Lower standard of living than their parents
- Less career satisfaction than that of their parents
Video 4:
(Student fears in 'jobless America', 2010)
Video 5: This graduate, in addition to being straddled with student loan debt, spends hours everyday filling applications and browsing the internet (job websites) for a job.
(American college grads can't buy a job, 2010)
Video 6: When credit scores fall, getting a job becomes harder. Companies looking to hire Millennials check their credit scores online.
(Student debt bubble about to explode, 2010)
It is evident that the plight of the youth unemployment is escalating and something needs to be done to keep their degrees effective while they are seeking employment, and skill set (those that have it) current.
Here, the Government of Ontario, along with the Ontario Public Service (OPS) has, as recent as January 2014, re-launched their 2013 campaign to help people under 30 with employment opportunities, building skills or starting their own business. It’s called “Ready.Set.Work.” (Ready.Set.Work, 2014).
Here, the Government of Ontario, along with the Ontario Public Service (OPS) has, as recent as January 2014, re-launched their 2013 campaign to help people under 30 with employment opportunities, building skills or starting their own business. It’s called “Ready.Set.Work.” (Ready.Set.Work, 2014).
The service specifically offers paid internships with the government, to gain hands-on experience in the field, gain mentorships and networking connections that would bode well in their future, career development and coaching.
The program also includes partnering with industries, institutions and not-for-profits with an impactful strategic plan (Making an Impact: Youths Job Strategy, 2013).
They can be followed via their Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube channel.
So, circling back, it is a known fact that our aging workforce will be retiring within the next 2-3 decades. In this economic turmoil and uncertainty, the millennials' employment scene is bleak, but will improve with time as jobs become available with retiring Baby Boomers. Not expecting them to while away the time waiting, the unemployed Generation Y can avail OPS plans to successfully connect them with their aspiring career jobs.
The program also includes partnering with industries, institutions and not-for-profits with an impactful strategic plan (Making an Impact: Youths Job Strategy, 2013).
They can be followed via their Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube channel.
So, circling back, it is a known fact that our aging workforce will be retiring within the next 2-3 decades. In this economic turmoil and uncertainty, the millennials' employment scene is bleak, but will improve with time as jobs become available with retiring Baby Boomers. Not expecting them to while away the time waiting, the unemployed Generation Y can avail OPS plans to successfully connect them with their aspiring career jobs.
Updated March 24, 2014
References:
Some facts about the demographic and ethnocultural
composition of the population-Aging-Figure 24 & 25. (2008, January 25). Retrieved from Statistics
Canada: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/91-003-x/2007001/4129904-eng.htm
American college grads can't buy a job. (2010, January 15). Retrieved from YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDqboEt1tx0
NEED TO KNOW | Generation jobless: 'Millennials'
struggle with unemployment | PBS.
(2010, October 12). Retrieved from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLlrn3_G1ZQ
Student debt bubble about to explode. (2010, September 3). Retrieved from YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAQBMRhVedI
Student fears in 'jobless America'. (2010, April 2). Retrieved from YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ealPpxAV9zA
I Am Over-Educated and Unemployed. (2011, October 1). Retrieved from YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIVAj5LW7QA
I Am No Longer Over-educated and Unemployed. (2012, May 16). Retrieved from YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DI6sd9Ahzk
Making an Impact: Youths Job Strategy. (2013, October). Retrieved from Government of
Ontario:
https://www.ontario.ca/jobs-and-employment/making-impact-youth-jobs-strategy
Ready.Set.Work. (2014, January 13). Retrieved from Government of Ontario:
http://www.ontario.ca/jobs-and-employment/employment-programs-people-under-30
Hi Audrey,
ReplyDeleteIt was nice reading your blog about the unemployment issues and how it affects different generations, especially our young generations today.
It is sad to read and to hear how the young generations struggle in finding jobs and leading a normal life. Young generations work very hard to upgrade their education and get a degree. They put all their time, money and efforts in their education so they can get a good job later and pay off their student loans and pay for other demands of life. However, it is sad how most of people having bachelors, masters and even PHDs struggle to find a job. Watching the first video in your blog, it was interesting to know that 50% of graduates with college degrees and 80% with masters, after searching and applying for hundreds of jobs, finally end up in military forces. Barak Obama’s message and help for the youth to upgrade their education and to get degrees is a good action.
Ontario’s ready, set, work program seems and sounds to be a helpful program. Actually, one of my friends just two weeks ago told me that she got a job through such a program. She did not name the program, but the concept was the same. She was very happy to have found a job finally after such a long time of looking and searching for a job.
Here is the link to a you tube video about “Unemployment on the Rise for Canada's Youth” by CCTV that I thought you might find interesting and relevant to your current blog;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUJzxYAaVPA
Good luck with your next blog!
Leena Homam
Hi Leena.
DeleteThank you for the YouTube link.
I had a deja vous with the reference to ON's Premier, Kathleen Wynne earmarking $295 million for youth unemployment (http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2013/09/27/youth_unemployment_private_sector_must_help_kathleen_wynne_says.html).
One morning, while driving to work, I was listening to CBC Radio 1's Matt Galloway interviewing an unemployed lady, and towards the end of the interview, Matt reported that Premier Wynne's tweeted "@Kathleen_Wynne: @metromorning I'm listening to every word." That not only helped the woman's confidence, but helped restore some semblance of faith in the political system.
Regards,
Audrey
You are very welcome. And thank you for the link to a news on Kathleen. I will check that out later.
DeleteTake care,
Leena