‘It’s a really frustrating time,’ CNE job fair sees record turnout. Toronto recruitment firm weighs in on how to create more jobs – NOW Toronto

More than 37,000 people came out to the Canadian National Exhibition job fair in Toronto, the highest number of applicants the fair has ever seen. 

On Wednesday, the CNE hosted its annual job fair at the Enercare Centre hoping to hire candidates to fill positions for customer service, food preparation, games and more. The CNE runs from Aug. 16 to Sept. 2.

The fair was from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and only registered participants with tickets were allowed to attend. According to CNE CEO Darrell Brown, the number of applicants they received is indicative of the fragile state of today’s job market for youth. 

“Our largest population of employees is the age 14 to 29 group, which is 80 per cent of our employees and so, seeing this many people applying says to me that there’s just not enough jobs out there in the market. But the other side of it is that people really want to work at the CNE. I think it’s more than just a job for most people, it’s an experience,” he said in an interview with Now Toronto on Thursday.

The CEO says numbers have continued to double every year for the job fair. That is why for the first time this year, the organization introduced a second registration requirement in addition to signing up for attendance, however the amount of applicants still surpassed its expectations.

“We probably had 5,000 people there, so 2,000 registered, but maybe another 3,000 arrived, knowing that it was happening. The registered people were given priority, and then the others were waitlisted to go in, following the people that were already registered,” Brown said.

Though thousands attended, the organization only had about 5,000 jobs readily available. Brown says staff had to inform those waiting in line around 1:30 p.m that all jobs had been filled.

“The association itself hires about 1,400 people, but then there’s all of the vendors, exhibitors or businesses that operate with us, and that’s usually at least another 3,600, so at least 5,000 or more are jobs that are available,” Brown explained.

“When we do this job fair, it’s mostly targeting, assisting the vendors and exhibitors. For example, like North American Midway, which brings in most of our rides, they do a major recruitment when they arrive here…So, we had probably a few hundred jobs available just from them alone,” he continued.

According to Statistics Canada, the national unemployment rate for youth between the ages of 15 to 24 in June was 13.5 per cent, marking the highest rate since September 2014, outside of 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic.

WHAT THIS MEANS ABOUT TORONTO’S JOB MARKET

The thousands of people looking for work at the CNE job fair is reflective of the challenges in the city’s current job market. Toronto recruitment and job agency Robert Walters Canada says many young people, including a high number of immigrants, are struggling to secure initial interviews because companies look heavily for applicants who have Canadian experience and specific qualifications. 

This, on top of companies who are acting more risk averse in its hiring process due to the poor state of the economy. 

“Another factor that may be driving high unemployment amongst young workers is that their expectations around pay and progression are quite far removed from what companies are currently willing to offer,” Robert Walters Canada Managing Director Martin Fox said in an email statement to Now Toronto.

“AI and automation have had a notable impact on the recruitment market – in fact, job seekers can use apps or bots to easily submit numerous applications which in turn has led to companies being inundated with applications,” he continued.

In addition, many hiring managers are also turning to specialist recruitment firms where expertise is crucial to filter applications and pin-point high-quality candidates. 

WHAT THE CITY NEEDS TO DO

To address the scarcity in the job market, Brown says the city needs to add additional summer employment opportunities at the federal, provincial and city level.

“…When you listen to some of the interviews with participants at the job fair, and during the chats that were circulating around…some kids saying they put out 300 resumes and didn’t get a bite. And so, it’s a really frustrating time,” he said.

Similarly, Fox says the city needs to adopt a more inclusive approach to hiring and focus on long-term strategies to create a robust and active job market. 

“Employers should value transferable skills and potential, especially for newcomers, and be open to training young professionals who can bring fresh perspectives. Revisiting and adjusting hiring budgets to reflect the true need for qualified talent is crucial. Ensuring that new hires have the resources and support they need will also help in retaining top talent,” he said.

“Employers could also consider opening contracts or temporary roles for those missing some relevant experience but eager to learn and get trained. This approach reduces commitment when budgets are tight and provides candidates, particularly younger ones, the opportunity to gain relevant experience and progress in their careers,” he continued.