New Op-Ed: How the Canadian Armed Forces could help solve
the youth employment crisis
A new op-ed by our Managing Director, Ilona Dougherty, highlights a critical opportunity in Canada’s 2025 budget: leveraging the major reinvestment in the Canadian Armed Forces to confront the worsening youth employment crisis. While young Canadians face the toughest job market in a decade, the CAF continues to struggle with recruitment and retention, creating a moment where youth-serving organizations and the military must work together. With meaningful roles, better support and modernized training, this generational investment could open real pathways for young people to thrive while strengthening Canada’s future.
🔗 Read the full op-ed
Op-Ed: As AI claims entry-level jobs, we need to prioritize real-world experience for young people alongside learning
Young people are going to need new ways to get experience. It will take a rethink of education and the very nature of entry-level work.
In a new Policy Options op-ed, our Managing Director, Ilona Dougherty, explores how artificial intelligence is disrupting entry-level pathways and what we can proactively do about it.
🔗 Read the full op-ed
Op-Ed: Stop Telling Young People to Adapt: We Need to Meet Them Halfway
Young people today are more educated, diverse, and digitally fluent than ever, but they continue to face systemic barriers to meaningful work and influence.
In this op-ed published by TheFutureEconomy.ca, our Associate Director, Valentina Castillo Cifuentes, alongside Intergenerational Council members Sana Khaliq and Marina Melanidis, explore what must shift for youth to truly thrive.
Addressing Youth Unemployment: Ilona Dougherty on CBC's The House
Ilona Dougherty, our Managing Director, recently joined Catherine Cullen on CBC/Radio-Canada’s The House for a segment titled "Why young Canadians are the canaries in the unemployment coalmine." She discussed the underlying challenges within Canada's youth employment system.
Ilona explained that while there's no quick fix, programs like Canada Summer Jobs and the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy can be highly effective when properly funded and implemented.
Following the interview, Parliamentarian Patty Hajdu confirmed a commitment to an immediate 6,000 new Canada Summer Jobs placements. This is an encouraging start, but it highlights that more systemic change is still needed.
Listen to the full interview here: CBC The House with Catherine Cullen.