Canadian youth are facing significant challenges in the job market, with data from Indeed showing a 22 percent decrease in summer jobs and a 14.3 percent unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 as of April 2026. In response, high schools in and around Edmonton are turning to programs like The Educational Partnership Foundation to provide students with quicker paths to employment.
Program Overview
The Educational Partnership Foundation offers trades-centric programs aimed at helping high school students transition directly into apprenticeships. At a graduation event held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, representatives from participating school boards and investors gathered to discuss the program's goals and successes.
Benefits for Students
Graeme Dowdell, program coordinator with the Career Pathways team at Edmonton Public Schools, praised the initiative. "This program is wonderful. It gives our students lots of opportunities to try out things that they maybe wouldn't otherwise have access to. They get to work with mentors that they normally wouldn't otherwise have access to at the training facilities as well," he said. Dowdell emphasized that the school board values any opportunity to support students and commended the foundation's assistance.
Provincial Investment
These opportunities come at a time when the provincial government is investing $338 million in skilled trades. Jay Stewart, a trustee for the foundation's main outside investor, the Workforce Development Trust, highlighted the importance of early exposure to trades. "We think it's really important to have a lot of awareness and education for the kids at the younger age, so they understand what they're getting into, and the advantage to being in a trade," Stewart explained. He noted that an aging workforce will soon retire, creating more job opportunities for youth.
Market Challenges
Stewart acknowledged the current slow job market, particularly in the construction and oil industries. "I think there's a little bit of a lull in the construction industry in general. I think there's a lot of things going on that are causing that. We're seeing a big slow in the oil industry, the heavy industrial stuff," he said. With Canada in a technical recession, jobs remain scarce for young people, and Dowdell believes schools must continue to equip students with new skills.
Through programs like these, Edmonton schools are providing alternatives to traditional career trajectories, helping students gain valuable experience and mentorship while addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment.
