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María Eugenia Longo: Reinvesting in Youth Employment and Living Conditions Is a Societal Imperative

May 20, 2026

Update : May 20, 2026

The series “Tour d’horizon en trois questions” highlights research in all its forms and offers an informed perspective on current issues.

Youth unemployment is once again drawing attention. Recent figures have fueled concern and debate, yet concrete measures to better support young people remain limited. What is really behind these numbers, and what do they reveal about the realities young people face in today’s labour market? María Eugenia Longo, Professor at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) and a specialist in the sociology of work and youth, shares her perspective. She is also co‑holder of the Chaire-réseau de recherche sur la jeunesse du Québec, volet Emploi et Entrepreneuriat. 

Is the current level of youth unemployment truly concerning?

From a historical standpoint, the situation is not unprecedented. Youth unemployment today is still lower than what was observed during the widespread crises of the 1980s, and it does not affect all young people in the same way.

When we look more closely, we see that unemployment is concentrated among specific groups, particularly younger teenagers and students. In Québec, for example, unemployment among 15–19‑year‑olds rose significantly in June 2025 before declining a few months later. A similar pattern can be seen among 20–24‑year‑olds. Part of this fluctuation is seasonal, as more young people enter the labour market during the summer months. However, these patterns now unfold in a more uncertain context shaped by economic slowdown and rapid technological change, including the growing role of artificial intelligence.

At the same time, young people are far from disengaged. On the contrary, they show a strong commitment to work, with employment and participation rates steadily increasing over the past decades. Many are actively trying to enter and remain in the labour market.

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Still, unemployment figures alone do not capture the full picture. Young people’s work trajectories are often fragmented, with periods of employment and non-employment that are not always permanent and sometimes even chosen.

What is more telling is the accumulation of challenges they face. Financial pressures, health issues, educational barriers, and limited access to support often overlap. These difficulties are not always resolved, even when young people are in school or employed, and they shape their overall pathways.

What challenges shape young people’s work and life trajectories? 

Young people tend to enter the labour market through jobs that are less stable and less protected. This makes them particularly vulnerable when disruptions occur, whether linked to economic downturns, labour shortages, or broader changes in the workplace.

Research shows that they are more likely to face difficult working conditions, including low pay, limited protections, and unequal treatment. At the same time, they must adapt to rapid transformations brought on by automation and artificial intelligence.

These challenges go beyond the workplace. Many young people are also dealing with increasing cost of living, difficulty accessing housing, food and financial insecurity, and rising mental health concerns.

All of this takes place during a stage of life that already involves major transitions such as leaving home, pursuing education, starting a career, and building personal or financial stability. These overlapping pressures make their trajectories more vulnerable.

Over time, this combination of factors can lead to discouragement, distance from the labour market, or reduced participation in society.

What solutions can help address these challenges?

Supporting young people requires a renewed commitment from governments. This means going beyond short-term employment measures and adopting a broader approach that takes into account the full range of challenges they face.

Québec has previously demonstrated strong leadership in this area. In the past, coordinated programs and community-based initiatives provided meaningful and sustained support, helping young people navigate complex transitions. These approaches relied on trust and on the expertise of organizations working directly with youth, such as the Carrefours jeunesse emploi in this province. 

However, recent years have seen a decline in the resources available to support these efforts, at both the federal and provincial levels. Funding cuts, limited indexation of support for organizations, stricter eligibility rules, a prioritization of rapid-integration measures over retraining pathways, and increasing administrative demands or the organizations implementing these policies are putting pressure on organizations and limiting their ability to respond to young people’s needs.These shifts risk weakening a system that took decades to build. They also carry significant human and economic consequences and send a troubling message about the importance given to youth, despite their essential role in a context such as population aging.It is therefore urgent to reassess these policy directions. Reinvesting in youth means recognizing the complexity of their realities and providing an integrated support that helps them build stable and meaningful lives, both in and beyond the labour market.

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Research by Professor Longo