Things look less bleak for students this second pandemic summer, with a stronger economy and Ontario eyeing gradual reopening, but tough challenges and…
COVID-19’s first wave last year stole their graduations.
Its second round this year robbed them of the fun stuff in high school, college and university.
The big question now for many teens and 20-somethings, as Ontario takes its shutdown fight against the pandemic’s third wave into June, is whether the virus will again cheat them out of summer jobs like last year, one of the worst yet for students.
While things aren’t looking nearly as bleak as last summer, it’s no picnic, either. And big unknowns that weren’t in play a year ago such as the extent of vaccinations, troublesome new virus variants and whether some employers weighed down by pandemic red ink can afford to hire could, for better or worse, be key to student job prospects this summer.
LONDON, ONT. The resilient economy in the London region has fueled a rebounding job market, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But finding enough workers to fill new jobs remains a hurdle to economic growth. The City of London, along with regional stakeholders from St. Thomas, Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin counties have commissioned a new research study, Labour Survey 2021, to better understand the labour market participation rate. “It is my belief this research will provide a clear focus for the development of future strategies and programs related to increasing our labour pool,” says London Mayor Ed Holder. Historically, the region has had one of the lowest labour market participation rates in Ontario, even during periods when job opportunities increase.