No one wants recent university grads
Hey, graduates. How does this title strike you: “No one needs you, Class of 2010”?
Not very encouraging, right? Not really what you want to hear after the culmination of four years learning at the highest level.
Yet, such is the headline of a recent Joe Queenan editorial in the Wall Street Journal, a scathing, pull-no-punches piece that concludes, ‘Man, there really are no jobs for twentysomethings out there – at all.’
Yes, Queenan’s WSJ column is a must-read, if bleak. It essentially details how today’s wave of grads – while saddled with unprecedented tuition debt and an economic climate not seen since pre-Casablanca days – have it so much worse than any generation before.
But that’s all in the U.S. Could it be any brighter here, in Canada?
You can do your own anecdotal polling inside your community, but by almost every nation-wide statistical and empirical measuring stick, meaningful employment opportunities for recent Canadian grads are just as paltry as they are south of the border.
“This is the worst I’ve ever seen it in (the) past 20 years,” Nancy Schaeffer, president of Youth Employment Service, recently told CTV.
Indeed, consider that while rehabbing businesses are hiring again (Canada added 108,700 jobs last month), they don’t want much to do with recent grads and their Geography or Art Therapy degrees.
Most companies – and entire industries, for that matter – make it a point to hire back the thousands of laid-off employees they had to can when the economy began to tank. Any business, you’d think, is going to opt for hiring experience over inexperience 99 times out of 100.
And then, if retread workers snatching up any fresh employment opportunities wasn’t enough for graduates, there is the influx of immigrant workers who want nothing more than to crush the soul of your high-priced education.
The Star reports that thousands of Irish workers, for example, are fleeing their troubled nation (unemployment rate: 14 per cent) to Canada, armed with work permits and eager to take the jobs meant for you.
All this is no good for recent grads, who would just go back to teacher’s college or law school if tens of thousands of students – many smarter than you – weren’t doing the same thing, making it impossible to get accepted.
Where do you turn, then? Statistics Canada reports that more than 70,000 youths are without full-time jobs and that many of those positions may have disappeared forever.
So maybe, in all likelihood, that Tim Hortons gig that helped you pay for school will have to be your career for a little while longer.
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Jeff S | Jun 1, 2021 12:21:27 AM
I was in the same boat a few years back and I know how it feels. I would have to agree with the fact that employers today would rather hire immigrants over new graduates because they can pay them less since the majority of the immigrants are not aware of labour laws. As well as employers would rarely hire a new graduate over someone armed with years of experience. However, I don't agree about the fact that immigrants are stealing our jobs but more of the companies moving out of Canada/ U.S. into countries where there are no labour laws (ex. China). In terms of the newly graduates, my advice would be to keep applying no matter how many times you get rejected.
Posted by: Magentis | Jun 1, 2021 12:42:09 AM
If new graduates aren't wanted, and knowing older graduates (over 50 years old) aren't wanted, that leaves a lot of people in between that still have a chance. Those between about 28 and 45 should have lots of opportunities. However, it is always a good thing to have an alternative way to make a living if your regular career dries up and you get left out. Engineering careers seem like the biggest busts that suddenly end in mid 40s to 50s with nothing in sight except mall security jobs. Great way to end a so-called career that people are told is one of the very best fields to study in university.
Posted by: Asian Gambler | Jun 1, 2021 5:37:18 AM
I am a full time professional gambler at RiverRock Casino and I've seen many recent grads becoming pro-gamblers. I usually makes about 3500$cad to around 6000$cad per month. then I use my winnings to invest in Asia's stock market.
Posted by: Glenn | Jun 1, 2021 6:38:48 AM
an education is still the best investment one can ever make. it's just a sign of the times, when supply out weighs demand for those sought after jobs. at least you can rest assured that you have done everything possible to stay competitive. don't let this article prevent you from graduating !
Posted by: GenXer | Jun 1, 2021 8:58:56 AM
I for one am currently hiring and I am very interested in recent grads with some part-time/summer office experience. I hired 2 brand new grads 2 years ago and they have been fantastic, hard working, takes the role seriously etc. I work in high tech and highly recommend new grads. You can mould them to your business and they bring new, creative ideas not to mention, excellent computer skills with them.
I am in Ontario, Canada.
Posted by: GenXer | Jun 1, 2021 9:02:04 AM
I meant to say mold, not mould! Sorry for the typo :)
Posted by: Phoenix | Jun 1, 2021 9:15:24 AM
GenXer where in Ontario are you located, are you still hiring?
Posted by: Jillian | Jun 18, 2021 1:46:36 PM
Thanks for the pessimism haha.. As a 2010 graduate though, I still remain optimistic. I don't agree with your comment about experience. There are many new positions emerging in relation to the development of technology (Including your blogging gig) that older employees do not have experience or extensive knowledge in because they did not exist when they were attending university. Experience in print media cannot be considered experience in electronic media because in doing so you ignore all of the other possibilities of the medium and as GenXer mentions, the creative and hard working thinkers of the class of 2010 are capable and more likely to push things forward rather than going through the motions. I think it would be a blind sight to ignore the competitive nature of my generation.
On another note, the cost of living in Canada IS however scaring the crap out of me as someone who has not yet established a financial foothold in this economy. I would quickly consider employment abroad.