The Quebec government has allocated $18 million for the 2025-2026 period to support projects that aim to help young individuals integrate into the workforce, addressing the challenges they face in a tough job market.
Announced by Employment Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain on Wednesday, this funding stems from a five-year agreement with the federal government.
The initiative, titled the “Youth in Motion to Employment” program, consists of two main components: preparing young individuals for their entry into the workforce and providing them with work experience coupled with socio-professional assistance.
Participants in the program will receive an employment assistance allowance in the initial phase and a salary from their employer in the subsequent phase.
This announcement coincides with recent data from Statistics Canada, which highlights the tough job market conditions experienced by young people.
In July, the employment rate for youth aged 15 to 24 dropped by 0.7 percentage points nationwide to 53.6 percent, marking its lowest level since November 1998 (excluding the pandemic period).
Minister Champagne Jourdain emphasized in a press release, “Through Youth in Motion Toward Employment, we are equipping young individuals from all regions of Quebec with the resources to train, realize their ambitions, and gradually enter the workforce.”
Noteworthy, under a prior agreement between Quebec and Ottawa, approximately 17,000 young individuals received assistance, with 7,000 benefiting from a trial project conducted from 2020-2021 to 2024-2025. Quebec-provided data indicates that almost 66 percent of them secured employment.
Rudy Humbert, President and CEO of the Réseau des carrefours jeunesse-emploi du Québec, stressed the importance of supporting young individuals in light of the significant changes in the job market, including shifts related to artificial intelligence, socio-ecological transitions, and trade dynamics.
This initiative falls within the Canada-Quebec Contribution Agreement in Support of Quebec Youth, targeting individuals aged 16 to 30.
