Share of young Canadians citing unemployment as biggest concern has surged
Employment fears have vaulted to the forefront of public concern, particularly among those just entering the workforce, according to new research.
With recent labour market data highlighting how younger Canadians saw the bulk of jobs lost, the new Angus Reid Institute survey shows that, among Canadians aged 18 to 24, almost four in ten now say that jobs and unemployment are the most pressing national issues.
That figure has more than doubled since December, when only 18% of young people identified it as their top worry and the report notes that this incremental climb over recent years has “been overshadowed by precipitous movement in 2025.”
The anxiety is not limited to younger workers, though the intensity is higher. Overall, two in five Canadians report that they or someone in their household are worried about losing work due to current economic conditions, but for those aged 18 to 24, that number jumps to 52%. Just one in three feel their job is totally secure, while half (51%) say it is mostly secure.
Youth unemployment has been climbing in official stats over the summer, with the 15-to-24 age bracket bearing a disproportionate share of job losses. While older workers face their own pressures, younger Canadians are encountering both unstable employment and limited entry-level opportunities at the same time.
Looking more broadly at the Angus Reid survey’s findings, more than half of Canadians say they cannot keep pace with rising living costs, even as concerns over housing have cooled somewhat.
Financial resilience appears uneven with only half of respondents feeling that they could manage an unexpected $1,000 expense and a quarter saying that a $250 unexpected expense would be too much to manage. Lower-income households report much higher levels of stress.
The survey also shows a sharp reduction in concern about tariffs and Canada’s relations with the US. In March, 41% cited this as their top issue but it fell to just 18% in the new survey.
