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CNE Records 54,000 Job Applications as Ontario Youth Unemployment Hits 15.8%

More than 1,000 roles have been filled ahead of the fair’s August opening, highlighting intense competition in a cooled job market.

People walk past the ferris wheel the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paige Taylor White
The line for the CNE job fair looped down a long hallway beside the event hall.
A view of a merry-go-round and rollercoaster at the CNE during sunset.

Overview

  • The CNE received over 54,000 online applications for more than 5,000 seasonal roles at its two-week fair, marking an all-time high.
  • Ontario’s youth unemployment rate stood at 15.8% in June, exceeding last year’s level yet remaining below those seen during the COVID-19 crisis and the 2008 recession.
  • Over 1,000 seasonal employees have already been hired as organizers prepare for the fair’s August 15 opening.
  • Viet Vu of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Dais think tank attributes rising youth joblessness to slower business hiring and disruptions in trade with the United States.
  • The surge underscores the intense competition among new graduates and students seeking entry-level positions this summer.