B.C. students empty-handed after submitting applications for hundreds of jobs

When B.C. student Samantha* began applying to summer jobs in February, she was determined.

The 19-year-old, who is studying international relations at UBC, was hoping to land an office or public-sector position, something “career-building.”

Instead, she faced a mountain of rejections.

“I applied to over 360 jobs,” she told Daily Hive. “It became part of my routine. After class, I’d block off time every week just to apply.”

By late spring, she broadened her search to include restaurants, retail, and cashier roles. Still, nothing.

“The closer I got to June, the more I gave up on what I really wanted. I just needed something.”

One of the hardest rejections came from a student office job she nearly landed.

After a final interview, the employer told her she was a strong candidate but didn’t make the final cut.

“That one stung,” she said. “Because I was so close.”

Samantha’s story reflects a growing reality for many young people across B.C. and Canada who are experiencing the exhaustion and disappointment of the current job market.

Angad Dhillon, a 19-year-old biology student at UBC, also started applying for numerous jobs in April, for retail positions, summer camps, cashier roles, and more.

He told Daily Hive he had experience, strong references, and tailored cover letters.

“Only two interviews. No offers,” he said. “It’s honestly been demoralizing. You spend time writing a cover letter, tweaking your resume, and then hear nothing. Not even a ‘no.’ Just radio silence.”

The numbers aren’t lying

According to the latest Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada, released on July 11, 2025, the youth unemployment rate in Canada remained at 14.2 per cent in June, up nearly a full percentage point from last year.

For returning students aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate reached 17.4 per cent, the highest level for June since 2009, excluding the COVID-19 years.

And for the youngest job seekers, it’s especially bleak. More than one in four teens aged 15 to 16 couldn’t find work last month.

The numbers ease slightly with age; nearly one in five 17 to 19-year-olds were jobless, and for those in their early twenties, the rate was just over 12 per cent.

In B.C., the youth unemployment rate was 13 per cent in June, still one of the highest in the country, despite signs of improvement.

Even though Canada gained 83,000 jobs in June (the first rise since January), most of those gains went to workers aged 25 to 54, according to StatCan. 

For young people hoping to land a summer gig, the bump barely made a dent.

As Statistics Canada put it, there was “little employment change” for youth, a quiet but telling reminder of just how tough the job market still is for them.

“It’s not enough to be qualified”

Both Samantha and Dhillon say they feel frustrated, overlooked, and burned out, not because they aren’t qualified, but because the system seems increasingly closed off to young people.

“I called my old boss to ask if they had openings. I even walked into a few stores,” said Dhillon.

“One place told me they had no real openings, even though the job was posted online. They just keep collecting resumes.”

New data from the Labour Force Survey for the month of June 2025 are now available:

⬆️ Employment increased by 83,000 (+0.4%)
⬇️ Unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 6.9%

For more info: https://t.co/pDe1lAci8G pic.twitter.com/00H0Ebddrt

— Statistics Canada (@StatCan_eng) July 11, 2025

Samantha noted that while she doesn’t “think the system is intentionally stacked against students… it does work against us.”

“If adults who’ve already graduated are struggling to find jobs, and small businesses are barely getting by, it’s hard to imagine they’ll prioritize hiring students,” she said.

“Those roles are often seen as optional… something a business offers if it’s doing well. And right now, a lot of places just aren’t.”

She’s now shifted her summer focus to courses and LSAT prep.

“I need job experience to apply for grad school,” she said. “I’m leaning harder on my grades now because I have no real job history to show.”

Dhillon, who managed to secure a job for September, said the lack of summer income still stings.

“If I didn’t [have that job], I’d be panicking,” he said.

Fewer jobs, bigger crowd

For young Canadians, it’s not just about getting hired, it’s about finding listings in the first place.

According to a recent Indeed Hiring Lab report, summer job postings across Canada were down 22 per cent in early May compared to the same time last year.

Roles that are usually reliable entry points for students, such as camp counsellors, lifeguards, painters, and customer service representatives, have all seen noticeable declines in demand.

The drop couldn’t come at a worse time.

Over the past two years, Canada’s youth population has grown much faster than youth employment, noted a July BMO employment report, meaning there are now far more students competing for far fewer jobs.

This year is showing no signs of improvement.

“It’s not that young people aren’t trying. It’s that the opportunities we were promised just don’t exist right now,” explained Samantha.

“We’re constantly told to hustle and stand out… but that doesn’t matter if no one’s calling you back.”

When asked what employers could do better, Dhillon didn’t hold back.

“Start looking at people who already live here. There are students like me who are ready to work. But I keep hearing companies are giving entry-level jobs to people coming in temporarily. It feels like we’re not even being considered anymore.”

According to Samantha, clearer hiring practices could make a big difference.

“If you’re not actually hiring, don’t post the job. And if someone took the time to apply… especially with a cover letter… send a rejection at least.”

If you’d like to share your experience applying for jobs in Metro Vancouver, send an email to vancouver@dailyhive.com, and we may get in touch for a future story. 

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*Name has been changed to protect the source’s privacy.

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