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What We're Doing 10000 Youth Summer Jobs Campaign

To promote the campaign and gather more information, we’re spreading the word in different ways:

young woman speaking at summit

Youth Employment Summit 

On August 6 2024, TNGCS and partners Toronto Youth Cabinet, The Neighbourhood Organization, U of T's School of Cities, Toronto Community Housing and First Work convened at City Hall to welcome 200 attendees to the Youth Employment Summit. We brought to light key barriers and challenges with youth employment in today's landscape and its connection to rising youth violence. 

You can read more about the Summit below:

Toronto City Council

  • On December 18, 2024,  Parthi Kandaval submitted a motion to Toronto City Council in support of the campaign, which was seconded by Jamaal Meyers.  You can read the motion here.

  • In November 2024, the City adopted Sidewalks to Skylines: A 10-Year Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy. This plan provides a roadmap for Toronto’s economic development through 2035. One of the three key priorities is Quality jobs and Action number 16 on page 43 specifically references the creation of 10,000 summer jobs for youth by 2026!

toronto poastcard

Postcard Campaign

To ensure the 10000 Youth Summer Jobs Campaign accurately reflects the views and needs of young people, the Toronto Youth Cabinet created questionnaire postcards and discussed the benefit of the campaign with TDSB and TCDSB Youth Trustees and Student Councils in equity-deserving neighbourhoods. Participating Councils distributed the postcards in their schools.

The results
On August 7, 2025, we held a press conference to release the findings of the survey. You can read a short summary below, read the full report or watch a short video.

Of the young people surveyed:

  • 64% said a job would enable them to support their family with urgent needs like food, rent, and transportation and reduce their dependence on parents 

  • 75% said a meaningful job must align with their passions, values, or sense of purpose — including opportunities to give back to their communities

  • 74% cited structural, systemic, or logistical barriers — including transportation, inaccessible job locations, and competing responsibilities like school or caregiving

  • 77% reported that a lack of qualifications, prior experience, or training held them back from accessing opportunities

  • 60% said their actual or perceived identity (race, age, language, gender, disability) created barriers to employment — making discrimination the most cited challenge

Challenges and Barriers to Employment

  • Identity-based barriers to employment

  • Experience and skills gaps: breaking the catch-22

  • Structural & systemic barriers: when access is out of reach

Recommendations

  • Center equity and inclusion in design and delivery

  • Establish a mayor’s youth employment council

  • Scale boldly and sustainably

  • Make the program accessible and visible

  • Create future-focused and skills-rich roles

  • Invest in wraparound supports and mentorship

  • Tie the program to civic impact

Deputations to Toronto Budget Committee

Throughout January 2025, youth and staff spoke to the Toronto Budget Committee about the importance of summer jobs for young people.