Item - 2025.EC25.7

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the Provincial Government to increase the Focus on Youth Program funding to $15 million in school boards across Ontario, to reflect the growth of youth unemployment levels since pre-pandemic times.

2. City Council request the Provincial Government to peg the funding of Focus on Youth Program to annual inflation.

3. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, specifically to include the goal of creating new youth employment opportunities within the adopted terms of reference of the Youth Employment Table, and to direct the Youth Employment Table to set youth employment opportunity targets.

4. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, report to the Economic and Community Development Committee on May 5, 2026, and thereafter on an annual basis on the progress and outcomes achieved through the Youth Employment Table.
 

5. City Council request the Provincial and Federal Governments to provide additional and sustained funding to support the youth employment opportunities and targets set through the Youth Employment Table and other city initiatives.

6. City Council request the Federal Government to allocate funding and target positions to Toronto in proportion to Toronto’s youth population, within funding commitments of more than $1.5 billion in Budget 2025 under the Canada Summer Jobs Program, Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and Student Work Placement Program.

7. City Council request the Mayor to consider appropriate budget allocations to Social Development to facilitate youth employment opportunities through the Youth Employment Table and Charter, including by funding the hiring of additional staff as required.

8. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Community Development and Social Services and the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, in consultation with the Chief Procurement Officer, continue to advance the development of aligned construction workforce and equity targets, with a specific focus on youth access to construction career pathways, on new Toronto Builds projects where applicable, consistent with the Community Benefits best practices; and request the Executive Director, Social Development to share this work with the Inclusive Economic Development Working Table.

Toronto faces one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Ontario, at 19.7%, highlighting the ongoing challenges many young people are facing in accessing stable and meaningful employment. Indigenous, Black, newcomer, and 2SLGBTQ+ youth experience the greatest barriers, including limited access to networks, training opportunities, and pathways into stable work.

The City of Toronto employs more youth, aged 15 to 29, per capita, than any other Canadian municipality. Each year, over 16,000 youth are employed across the City system. Building on this strength, the City is taking steps to improve equitable youth employment and create clearer pathways from skill development to lasting careers, guided by Council direction and aligned with key Council-approved strategies.

This report provides an overview of the City’s youth employment programs. Attachment 1, City of Toronto Youth Jobs Inventory, provides a comprehensive inventory of 40 youth-specific employment programs offered across 10 City divisions, agencies, and corporations. Attachment 2, Case Studies of Toronto Youth Employment Pathways, provides case studies of how youth move through training, work experience, mentorship, and into careers through these programs.

While Toronto is a leading municipal youth employer, stronger coordination and investment across governments is needed. Limited provincial funding, and the seasonal nature of federal programs like the Canada Summer Jobs, highlight the need for a more aligned, multi-government approach to meet the needs of Toronto’s youth labour market.

In 2026, the City will focus on key actions to improve youth employment:

- Address barriers in hiring by reviewing and reforming practices like police reference checks, simplifying qualifications, and making job postings clearer, accessible, and more inclusive.

- Modernize recruitment systems with digital tools, data insights, and plain language for better transparency, and efficiency.

- Strengthen entry pathways through internships, and early talent programs to support smoother transitions into public service careers.

- Expand partnerships through the Youth Employment Table and the upcoming Toronto Youth Employment Charter.

- Create local jobs through major events like FIFA World Cup 2026™ and the municipal election.

These steps aim to build a more equitable system and call for stronger collaboration across governments and sectors to advance youth employment opportunities.