Canada Summer Jobs 2024: Application period for employers begins November 21, 2023

News release

November 20, 2023             Gatineau, Quebec             Employment and Social Development Canada

When young people have the skills and experience they need to join the workforce, communities and the economy both benefit. That is why the Government of Canada supports youth at every stage of their journey towards a bright future through its comprehensive array of youth programming, that includes Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ).

On November 21, 2023, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, will launch the employer application period for CSJ 2024. Employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees in Canada can apply for funding until January 10, 2024, to hire young Canadians next summer. Full-time job placements will become available starting in April 2024.

CSJ 2024 will aim to create 70,000 summer jobs for young Canadians, with an emphasis on creating jobs for youth facing barriers to employment. This is part of the over 140,000 opportunities that the Government of Canada aims to create for youth this year.

Each year, the Government establishes national priorities for CSJ to reflect Canada’s diverse population and evolving needs. The priorities for CSJ 2024 are:

  • Youth with disabilities or with organizations that provide services to persons with disabilities;
  • Youth that are underrepresented in the labour market, including:
    • Black and other racialized youth
    • Indigenous youth
    • 2SLGBTQI+ youth
  • Youth in rural areas, remote communities, or official language minority communities;
  • Jobs that provide exposure or experience related to the skilled trades, which may include opportunities in the residential construction sector; and
  • Sustainable jobs that support the protection of the environment or delivering positive environmental outcomes.

Employers interested in applying for CSJ 2024 funding are encouraged to submit their applications electronically on the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) portal. Creating a GCOS account is a one-time process that allows organizations to apply for various Employment and Social Development Canada funding opportunities  in a secure web environment.

The CSJ program is one of two programs that Employment and Social Development Canada delivers under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS). Delivered in partnership by 12 federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations, the YESS is a horizontal Government of Canada initiative that supports youth between the ages of 15 and 30 to gain the work experience and develop the skills they need to successfully transition into the labour market. In early October, the Government launched a call for proposals under Employment and Social Development Canada’s YESS Program to fund projects that support youth who are facing barriers to employment.

To further support youth, additional funding opportunities are currently available through the Canada Service Corps (CSC) for organizations that provide meaningful volunteer service opportunities for young people between the ages of 12 and 30. Organizations can apply for funding through the CSC call for proposals until December 19, 2023. Through the call, the CSC will aim to create approximately 36,000 service opportunities for youth.

This comprehensive array of programs represent the Government of Canada’s commitment to ensuring that youth have meaningful and effective supports to enter the job market and build their skills and experience. Young people across Canada all have one thing in common – they want to create a better future for themselves, and the Government remains committed to supporting their success.

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Quotes

“When our young people have the tools and opportunities to succeed – they thrive. This is why our government will continue to invest in the success of our youth through an array of programming, including the Canada Summer Jobs program. Our young people deserve the very best, and that includes getting them into the job market, into careers they love, and making sure no one is left behind.”

– The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth 

Quick facts

  • Since 2020, CSJ has created more than 300,000 job opportunities for youth. 

  • CSJ has a proven track record of providing meaningful job opportunities for youth. In a survey of CSJ youth participants for 2022, 97% of respondents reported that they had developed and strengthened transferable skills through their CSJ job placement, and 89% said that they had developed a positive attitude about their future employment prospects.

  • The unemployment rate for 15 to 29 year olds in October 2023 (both student and non-student) was 9.0%. However, for underrepresented groups, these rates tend to be higher.  

  • CSJ-funded positions will be posted to Job Bank starting in April 2024 and will continue throughout the summer.

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Contacts

For media enquiries, please contact:

Nanki Singh
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Marci Ien
Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
819-665-2632
nanki.singh@fegc-wage.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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