REGINA — Finding a job as a youth hasn’t been easy for dozens of local residents who attended Wednesday’s Regina Career Fair and Training Expo Canada.
22-year-old Hunter Brouzes currently works part-time for a food truck company and has applied to every job he can think of with no luck.
“You get lots of people on Indeed, they’ll ask you for an interview over the phone and stuff like that, and then they’ll get your information and be okay, yeah, all done. Then you just won’t hear back from them.”
Brouzes has been working on obtaining different certifications, including selling alcohol, but says it hasn’t improved his luck.
“Even though I’ve expanded my range, I still haven’t heard back.”
After graduating from high school, Brouzes admitted he had pictured obtaining a job easily.
“I thought I walkinto the employment role and just have a full-time job, like back in the old days, suit and tie type of deal.”
Fellow job-seeker Dhanesh, who moved recently from Ontario, said it’s very hard to find a job anywhere.
“To be honest with you, I applied to many jobs online since I moved here, but I didn’t get a response.”
Dhanesh had studied law, working for a legal company for over a year before it closed down.
After losing his job, Dhanesh struck out on re-entering the law industry, so he shifted towards construction, hoping to start fresh in Regina.
He admitted his struggles make him question investing money in education.
“Sometimes you feel like it’s a waste of time, and it’s a waste of your money. It’s frustrating because you’re working with the same guy who never went to school, and you are making the same amount as him, so of course it’s frustrating.”
Dhanesh said his financial situation could become dire if he cannot find employment in the next month.
As of February, Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate rose by 0.3 per cent to 5.6 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. During the month, Saskatchewan lost 5,500 jobs. However, the province remains below the national unemployment rate of 6.7 per cent.
Employer perspective
Shane Johnson, manager of human resources & safety advisor at Potzus Ltd., a civil construction company, said the labour market has changed since COVID-19, as an influx of people started looking for work.
“Not only are young people getting into different careers, but now people are changing careers a few different times. So I’m having some older folks come in and saying, ‘Hey, I want to try paving. I want to try a roller operator position.’ Something totally different than an accounting job,”
Since many companies are receiving an influx of resumes, more than half of Canadian employers use generative artificial intelligence to screen candidates, according to Canadian HR Reporter.
Johnson said Potzus Ltd. is not using artificial intelligence, opting instead for a more traditional approach.
“We still do a step process on an email or a phone call first and then a follow-up after that, and I still like to interview people in person if they get to that third step and receive a job.”
Interviewing in-person, Johnson said, helps to better understand an applicant through their body language.
However, he understands that not all employers follow this method, so he recommended tips for job seekers.
“Get your best experience there, your best education and some training in there, a couple of references and keep it within a couple of pages.”
He also advised approaching as many employers as possible.
