Employment Concerns in a Post-Pandemic Toronto

The city of Toronto is arguably the most well-known and largest city in Ontario. It boasts abundant access to resources and opportunities for all its residents. With good reason. Those who are lucky enough to call the Greater Toronto Area home have long since benefited from its multicultural experience, academic fortitude, and ongoing public activities.

However, beyond the wall of opportunity lies a city trying to redefine itself in its post-pandemic era. It isn’t uncommon to overhear discussions about Toronto’s high costs of living, soaring housing rates and labour shortages. Even now, the climbing rates of inflation have reached almost every aspect of day-to-day living. Statistics Canada reports that its annual inflation rate is the highest its been in decades, reaching a record level of 7.7 (Lorinc, 2022).

 These unprecedented times may put a strain on the average household, but when it comes to the most vulnerable, their quality of life deteriorates farther than most. Home insecurity in youth already leads to a multitude of problems such as food insecurity, poor mental health, and lack of emotional support. Coupled with an economy trying to recover from a pandemic, as well as high expense costs of living and housing, these youth find themselves scrambling to lay solid foundations.

 While finding stable shelter is a primary concern for these youths, many begin to extend their concerns into other areas such as employment. The start of the pandemic introduced the first wave of labour shortages that still has not been alleviated today. Statistics Canada informs that approximately 915, 500 jobs were unfilled during the fourth quarter of 2021 (Nojoud Al Mallees, 2022).

 Though one may argue that the current climate means that there is an increase in opportunities for job-seeking hopefuls, it may be more complicated than they think. A common stereotype states that individuals who are facing home insecurity are lazy and refuse to work. This popular misconception ignores the barriers many homeless individuals face when it comes to the job market.

 Not having a stable home entails not having access to a phone number or internet to create a resume or participate in interviews. It also means rarely getting a full night of sleep or access to necessary nourishment to sustain them for the day. Unfortunately, these barriers don’t stop there but also encompass physical disabilities, limited access to transportation, and limited vocational training (Homeless Hub, 2019). The truth isn’t that they do not want to work, rather it is that they do not have the resources at hand to succeed in their chosen field.

At REST Centres we strive to transform the lives of youth and give them the resources to not only find housing but for them to achieve their educational, financial and career goals. We know intimately that youth homelessness is a recurring issue within our region and we work hard to heighten awareness and drive change. Through our community-based model, we are confident we can bridge the gap between home insecurity and personal stability to help youths establish the foundations they need to grow and thrive in our new society.