New graduates in Quebec are facing significant challenges in a tough job market with fewer vacancies and higher requirements. YES Clients Enmanuel Domingo De Jesus Reyes and Chelsea Obodoechina, also both Concordia master’s graduates, share their experiences of navigating these obstacles despite their advanced degrees in an article, Degrees in hand, jobs out of reach: Graduates face worsening job market, published by the Montreal Gazette.
De Jesús, from the Dominican Republic, has been actively job hunting since completing his degree in industrial engineering, while Obodoechina, a Montreal native with a sociology degree, carefully applies for jobs that match her skills. Both find it difficult to secure full-time employment due to heightened competition and stringent job requirements.
The COVID-19 pandemic and new language laws further complicate the job search for many graduates, especially anglophones like Obodoechina. Quebec’s unemployment rate recently rose to 5.7%, with youth unemployment at 10.3%. This situation is worsened by weak economic growth and a surge in population, leading to fewer job vacancies.
Organizations like YES have become crucial, seeing a 27% increase in young clients seeking help. Despite the challenges, both De Jesús and Obodoechina remain hopeful, leveraging networks and employment services to find opportunities.
As graduates face these hurdles, the support from services that we provide is vital for their job search success and career development.
To read the full article in the Montreal Gazette, click here.
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