From Part-Time Struggle to National Debate: Why I Created a Civics Resource for Youth Unemployment

The title slide for my new resource

Every spring, I see the same thing in my classroom. As the weather warms up, the conversation turns to the summer job hunt. But what was once a rite of passage has become a real struggle for many young people. They’re sending out dozens of resumes and hearing nothing back, and the disappointment is tangible.

I've been watching this struggle for a while, and the data confirms it's not just a local issue. In August 2025, the youth unemployment rate for Canadians aged 15-24 was 14.5 percent, a figure that has remained stubbornly high. This isn't just a short-term problem, either. The inability to find early work can have profound and lasting consequences, a phenomenon known as the "scarring effect".

As a teacher, I want to help my students understand why this is happening. But the public conversation about this struggle has become incredibly toxic. Where I live, I’ve personally observed a troubling rise in hostility and anti-immigrant sentiment. This experience became the other major driver for creating this resource.

It turns out my observations are supported by the data. A study from York University documents a direct link between this anti-immigrant rhetoric and a significant rise in race-based hate crimes. In the Waterloo region, for instance, police logged a considerable increase in incidents targeting South Asians. International students from India have reported a surge of anti-Indian rhetoric online, with accusations that they are taking away jobs or harming Canada's future.

This anti-immigrant sentiment is a direct result of the "scapegoat narrative," which simplifies a complex reality by blaming a single group for multiple, interconnected problems like the housing crisis and job shortages. The truth, as the resource explains, is that immigrants are essential to numerous key sectors of the economy and often fill jobs that Canadians "don't want to do".

I knew I couldn't just stand by and let my students be exposed to this harmful, simplistic narrative. That's why I created this resource. My goal was to create a tool that moves beyond the simplistic narratives and allows students to engage with the complex and nuanced issues at hand.

This resource is designed to help students connect the dots between their own experiences and a major national issue. It’s an opportunity for them to move past the "blame game" and demand better policy that addresses the root causes of our challenges.

The resource includes:

1. Ready-to-Teach Slideshow (PPTX): A fully designed presentation with visuals and speaker notes to guide instruction.

2. Editable Slideshow (PPTX): The same presentation content, but fully editable for teacher customization.

3. Reading (DOCX/PDF): A detailed exploration of the topic, supported by credible sources.

4. Companion Guides (DOCX/PDF): Student organizers linked to both the slideshow and the reading, designed for key terms, data, and critical reflections.

5. Three Ready-to-Use Assignments: Creative and analytical assignments with instructions, student sheets, and editable rubrics.

If you've seen this struggle and the resulting toxicity in your own community, this resource is for you. It’s more than a lesson on economics; it’s a tool to empower students to think critically and challenge political rhetoric that perpetuates division and harm.

tags: Civics Resource for Youth Unemployment