What happens when young people are invited to rethink the future of skilled trades? This winter in Montreal, the Youthful Cities Skilled Trades Innovation Lab brought together youth aged 18–30, educators, employers, and community leaders to explore one central question: How do we make skilled trades more visible, accessible, and appealing to the next generation? [...]

Que se passe-t-il lorsque l’on invite les jeunes à repenser l’avenir des métiers spécialisés?  Cet hiver à Montréal, le Youthful Cities Labo d’innovation sur les métiers spécialisés a réuni des jeunes de 18 à 30 ans, des éducateurs, des employeurs et des acteurs communautaires autour d’une question centrale : Comment rendre les métiers spécialisés plus […]

Youth unemployment in Canada remains stubbornly high, with the most recent data showing 11.9% of young people are out of work—more than double the national average. Behind this number are real challenges that youth face when trying to find meaningful, stable work in their cities. That’s why we brought together young people across Canada for [...]

Click to download image Toronto, September 9, 2025 — With youth employment falling to its lowest level in 25 years—just 53.6% in July—new solutions are urgently needed. Today, Youthful Cities is releasing Building Bridges: Connecting Youth Skills to the Future of Work, a report that offers 10 youth-designed pathways to help reverse this trend and [...]

As part of our Bold Futures webinar series, Community Innovation in the North: Success strategies from indigenous youth spotlighted the voices of young changemakers shaping solutions in Canada’s North. The conversation was grounded in findings from the Youthful Cities DEVLab Project, which revealed that youth  —particularly racialized, Black, and Indigenous youth—faced greater disruptions to education and fewer [...]

On International Youth Day, Youthful Cities calls for stronger local investment in youth-driven solutions—and offers the data to make it happen. Young people across Canada are eager to build dynamic careers, strong communities, and equitable futures—but they’re also clear-eyed about the barriers. Today, on International Youth Day 2025, Youthful Cities is releasing ten key insights […]

À l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la jeunesse, les jeunes au Canada réclament un investissement local plus important dans les solutions proposées par les jeunes eux-mêmes et fournissent les données nécessaires pour y parvenir. Les jeunes de partout au Canada désirent se bâtir une carrière dynamique, renforcer leurs communautés et se forger un avenir […]

Adewunmi never thought she would be working in the AI field when she was in school. Mentors encouraged her to apply for roles outside her comfort zone, which led her to a program that exposed her to product management and AI. She saw how AI could be used to help team members work more effectively. [...]

An executive coach, an employment program coordinator, and a talent acquisition operations manager walk into a Zoom room… It sounds like the setup for a corny joke, but it turned out to be the perfect mix for a candid, cross-sector conversation on what employers are really looking for in today’s young talent. As part of [...]

Young people care. About their communities, their futures, and the planet. But when it comes to election time, youth often find themselves left out of the conversation. That’s a mistake. Because youth might show up at the ballot box—when they see their values reflected in policies. According to 1626 youth respondents of the Youthful Cities […]

L’avenir du travail est là : nos villes sont-elles prêtes ? Imaginez la situation : Nous sommes en 2030 et les villes du Canada débordent de jeunes professionnels qui travaillent dans des secteurs émergents, collaborent entre les secteurs et stimulent la croissance économique. Cela semble un peu utopique, mais à Youthful Cities, nous croyons que […]

The future of work is here: Are our cities ready? Picture this: It’s 2030, and cities across Canada are bustling with young professionals working in emerging industries, collaborating across sectors, and driving economic growth. Sounds a bit utopian, but at Youthful Cities we believe it’s possible. But how do we get there? The future of […]

Qu’est-ce qui fait qu’un emploi est « bon » pour les jeunes ? Et si votre emploi idéal ne se résumait pas à un salaire, mais était un endroit où vous pourriez vous épanouir, vous sentir valorisé et aimer votre travail ? Ça a l’air génial, non ? Eh bien, les jeunes travailleurs d’aujourd’hui ne […]

What makes a job “good” for youth? What if your ideal job wasn’t just about the paycheck, but a place where you could grow, feel valued, and actually enjoy your work? Sounds pretty great, right? Well, young workers today aren’t just dreaming about it—they’re demanding it. Through thousands of survey responses and hundreds of interviews, […]

La pandémie a remodelé le paysage de l’emploi, mais pour les jeunes travailleurs, les répercussions se font encore sentir. Les villes et les lieux de travail ont évolué, mais des obstacles majeurs – accessibilité financière, santé mentale, manque de compétences et difficultés de mise en réseau – continuent d’empêcher les jeunes de se construire une […]

The pandemic reshaped the employment landscape, but for young workers, the aftershocks are still being felt. Cities and workplaces have evolved, yet major barriers—affordability, mental health, skill gaps, and networking challenges—continue to make it difficult for youth to build stable and fulfilling careers. So, how do we make sense of these shifting dynamics? Youth Chart, […]

Mise en scène des compétences Imaginez que vous ayez terminé vos études, que vous soyez impatient de commencer votre carrière et que vous vous rendiez compte que les compétences que vous avez mis des années à développer ne correspondent pas tout à fait à ce qu’attendent les employeurs. Vous n’êtes pas les seuls. De nombreux […]

Setting the skills scene Imagine graduating from school, eager to start your career, only to realize that the skills you’ve spent years developing don’t quite match what employers expect. You’re not alone. Many young people face this disconnect between education and the workforce—where what they’ve been taught doesn’t align with the demands of today’s job […]

Les données sont puissantes, mais sans les bons outils, elles peuvent être écrasantes – juste une collection de chiffres et de mots. À Youthful Cities, nous croyons que les données doivent raconter une histoire, une histoire qui nous aide à mieux comprendre les besoins, les défis et les possibilités des jeunes au Canada. C’est pourquoi […]

Data is powerful, but without the right tools, it can be overwhelming—just a collection of numbers and words. At Youthful Cities, we believe that data should tell a story, one that helps us better understand the needs, challenges, and opportunities for youth in Canada. That’s why we created Youth Data Lab (YDL)—a platform that makes […]

Série sur l’état du logement des jeunes au Canada – Episode 4 : Vers un avenir plus radieux, axé sur la jeunesse Aujourd’hui, au Canada, la montée hyper rapide des prix du logement a créé un écart intergénérationnel qui exige une action audacieuse. Les jeunes au Canada sont confrontés à d’immenses difficultés pour accéder à […]

The State of Housing for Young People in Canada Series – Episode 4: Towards a brighter, youth-focused future In Canada today, skyrocketing housing prices have created an intergenerational divide that demands bold action. Youth in Canada face immense challenges in accessing affordable housing. Tackling this challenge requires innovative solutions, from equitable policies to targeted support […]

L’état du logement pour les jeunes au Canada – Épisode 3 Lorsque l’on parle de logement, il est facile de se perdre dans les chiffres. Mais derrière chaque statistique, il y a une histoire. Des histoires de premiers appartements, de recherches difficiles, de déménagements inattendus, de moments de triomphe et de lutte. Ces récits, recueillis […]

The State of Housing for Young People in Canada – Episode 3 When we talk about housing, it’s easy to get lost in the numbers. But behind every statistic, there’s a story. Stories of first apartments, challenging searches, unexpected moves, and moments of triumph and struggle. These stories, captured through the voices of young people […]

L’état du logement pour les jeunes au Canada – Épisode 2 L’enquête nationale de Youthful Cities, L’état du logement pour les jeunes au Canada, révèle les réalités en matière de logement auxquelles sont confrontés les jeunes âgés de 18 à 33 ans dans les plus grandes villes du Canada. Réalisée en collaboration avec six partenaires […]

The State of Housing for Young People in Canada – Episode 2 Youthful Cities’ national survey, The State of Housing for Young People in Canada, uncovers the housing realities facing youth aged 18 to 33 across Canada’s largest cities. Conducted in collaboration with six key partners—CMHC, Canadian Urban Institute, Generation Squeeze, Smart Prosperity Institute, Student […]

Rêves de logement différés : Faire face à un marché inabordable Pour les jeunes du Canada, âgés de 18 à 33 ans, le logement est devenu l’un des plus grands défis de notre époque. La hausse des taux d’intérêt, la flambée des loyers et la stagnation des salaires forment une tempête parfaite qui rend l’accès […]

Housing dreams deferred: Coping with an unaffordable market For youth in Canada, housing has become one of the most significant challenges of our time. Rising interest rates, skyrocketing rents, and stagnant wages have created a perfect storm, making it nearly impossible for many to afford a place to call home. Housing isn’t just a financial […]

Affordability is a cornerstone of what makes a city livable for young people, but it’s not the whole story. For youth struggling with mental health challenges, affordability intersects with issues like access to healthcare, meaningful work, and stable housing. Without addressing these connections, cities risk leaving a significant portion of their young populations behind. Today, […]

Aujourd’hui, les jeunes redéfinissent ce qui fait d’une ville un endroit où il fait bon vivre et travailler. Il ne s’agit plus seulement de la disponibilité des emplois – ils se posent des questions plus profondes : Ai-je les moyens de vivre ici ? Aurai-je la possibilité de m’épanouir ? Vais-je m’épanouir dans cet environnement […]

Young people today are redefining what makes a city a great place to live and work. It’s not just about job availability anymore—they’re asking deeper questions: Can I afford to live here? Will I have room to grow? Will I thrive in this environment? The Urban Work Index 2024 captures the essence of what youth […]

October 9, 2024 Youthful Cities Ranks 30 Cities on Youth Criteria and Montreal, Vancouver aren’t far behind   Toronto, ON – Youthful Cities proudly announces the results of the Urban Work Index 2024, naming Toronto the ‘Best City for Youth to Work in Canada’ for the second year in a row.  The index, developed through […]

Le 9 octobre 2024 Youthful Cities classe 30 villes en fonction de critères liés à la jeunesse, et Montréal et Vancouver se classent juste derrière. Toronto, ON – Youthful Cities est fière d’annoncer les résultats de l’Indice du travail urbain 2024, qui désigne Toronto comme la « meilleure ville où travailler pour les jeunes au […]

Dans la série “Compétences et échelles” de Youthful Cities, nous mettons en lumière les défis auxquels les jeunes Canadiens sont confrontés dans le monde du travail et la vie urbaine, tout en proposant certaines solutions à ces enjeux. Nous avons commencé par parler de l’échelle de carrière et du décalage des compétences. Dans cet article, […]

In Youthful Cities’ Skills and Ladders series, we reveal the challenges youth in Canada are experiencing in the job market, in the world of work, city life, and some solutions for these issues. We began by talking about the career ladder and bridging the skills gap. In this post, we focus on young people’s priorities […]

Dans la série Compétences et Échelles de Youthful Cities, nous mettons en lumière les défis auxquels les jeunes Canadiens font face sur le marché de l’emploi, dans le monde du travail et la vie urbaine, ainsi que certaines solutions à ces problèmes. Ces informations proviennent de données recueillies dans le cadre de DEVlab, un projet […]

In Youthful Cities’ Skills and Ladders series, we reveal the challenges youth in Canada are experiencing in the job market, in the world of work, city life, and some solutions for these issues. The insights come from data gathered through DEVlab, a project funded by the Government of Canada and in partnership with Tamarack Institute. […]

We are in the season of reflection, so Youthful Cities is taking a look at what 2022 has meant for us. As a team, we’ve enjoyed getting out and about in Canadian cities more than we’ve been able to over the past two years that were so defined by the pandemic. There were highs and lows – from celebrating during launch events to deep concern when our data found that no Canadian city was affordable for young people. 2022 was indeed a busy year, and we would love to share our highlights with you.

Here are a few of our favourite things from 2022!

As Canada gets older, attracting young people to small cities is a competitive advantage.

Do you know the average age in Canada per the latest 2021 Census release? 42.

That’s a lot older than it was in 1982 when the median age was 29 years. What does it mean for young people when the population ages?

  “Even living in one of the more “affordable” provinces, earning a decent paycheque and working 60+ hours a week, I still live paycheque to paycheque. I’m not poor but I am struggling…  I can only hope to live a happy life, not an affordable one.” – Real Affordability Index Youth Response, Montréal Hi there, […]

“A good city is like a good party- people stay longer than really necessary because they are enjoying themselves”– Jan Gehl Why are the costs of joy never included in data about affordability? We think that conversations about affordability need to include more than the bare minimum necessary to survive. That’s why we created a data […]

“Pleasure is not one of the spoils of capitalism. It is what our bodies, our human systems, are structured for; it is the aliveness and awakening, the gratitude and humility, the joy and celebration of being miraculous.” -Adrienne Marie Brown   Why are the costs of joy never included in data about affordability? We think that conversations […]

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody only because and only when, they are created for everybody.” -Jane Jacobs Why are the costs of joy never included in data about affordability? We think that conversations about affordability need to include more than the bare minimum necessary to survive. That’s why we created a data […]

“One of the most vital ways we sustain ourselves is by building communities of resistance, places where we know we are not alone.”– bell hooks, feminist writer and theorist. Why are the costs of joy never included in data about affordability? We think that conversations about affordability need to include more than the bare minimum necessary to survive. […]

Heading into the Canadian Federal Election, youth have been dealing with an enormous amount of pressure in addition to the continued impacts of the pandemic.