Hopeful candidates vying for a few weeks’ work at the Canadian National Exhibition descended on a downtown Toronto convention centre Wednesday morning, forming a line that snaked through the halls several times over.
Staff at the Enercare Centre said some people arrived as early as 6 a.m. for the CNE’s annual job fair, which opened its doors at 11 a.m.
Luanda Vilar Malungo waited for her turn to enter the job fair, one of several she’s attended across the city. Wednesday’s crowd wasn’t surprising to her, she said.
“Jobs are something everyone needs right now,” she said. “The market is very competitive, because we have high schoolers, university students and adults all looking for temporary work.”
Malungo was hoping to land short-term work at the CNE, but was also on the hunt for a part-time job for the school year, she said.
“It’s a bit harder to find part-time jobs that are long-term, so seasonal jobs like these, or temporary ones, are also really good for saving money, especially because it’s expensive in Toronto to be a teenager and buy stuff,” she said.
Working at the CNE also offers young people a chance to add real-life experience to their resume instead of simply listing their skills, she added.
The CNE said it received nearly 50,000 applications ahead of the job fair. With many more applications than positions offered, it’s another moment that illustrates the competition among youth who are trying to break into an already tough job market.
“One in five kids don’t have a job, and so the numbers are stark,” said CNE CEO Mark Holland, who points out that youth unemployment in the GTA was nearly 17 per cent in April.
“It shows there’s a huge need for youth employment, and we’re happy to be part of that solution,” said Holland. “We wish we could hire every young person, but we’re going to hire about 5,000, that’s a huge number, and it has a huge impact.”
The roughly 720 seasonal jobs that were offered on Wednesday included cashiers, retail and food service positions, with employers looking for eager applicants willing to stand out from the crowd.
Don’t be ordinary, be extraordinary. Show us what makes you different, why you’re a standout, why you’d be a great brand ambassador and give us something unique about yourself,” explained Darren Bloom with Yetti Puffs about the type of person they are looking for.
Along with its vendors, the CNE was looking to fill hundreds of seasonal positions, including cashiers, retail staff, game attendants, food service workers and guides, the organization said.
Holland said some jobs with partner organizations, including Metrolinx and the Royal Ontario Museum, will continue beyond the CNE’s 18-day run.
“We’re one of the largest job fairs in Canada, so we want to build on that platform to create as many opportunities for youth as possible,” he said.
“This year, for the first time, we’ve partnered with other organizations to expand those opportunities, because it’s so important to give young people that first chance, that first opportunity to break into the job market.”
Those who didn’t land a job Wednesday could access employment resources such as getting help with their resume, he said.
Aset Kuffour-Appiah, who attended the fair, said she was grateful the event focused on young job seekers.
“I’ve been online looking for jobs. I’ve applied to quite a few places, but I’m hoping that since this is catered to youth, it might be easier for me to get one,” she said. “This is my first time doing an in-person fair.”
Nicah Damsel, a recent high school graduate heading into university, welcomed the opportunity to earn money after a tough summer of hunting for part-time work.
“We’re just really looking to work part time so we can also pay for our tuition,” Damsel said.
Those who get selected will go through the training they need so they can be ready for their first day on the job. The end-of-summer fair runs Aug. 21 to Sept. 7.