TNG Community Group Advocates For Youth Employment Programs

United Way Greater Toronto is proud to work with our network of community agencies to keep pushing for meaningful investments in youth across our city – like TNG Community Group, a United Way Anchor Agency.  TNG Community Group presented to the City of Toronto, calling for stronger investment in summer youth employment programs. Youth unemployment in Ontario currently sits at a staggering 19.7% and is even higher for Indigenous, Black, newcomer, and 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

Because early investment in youth means focusing on prevention, not intervention.

Thank you to the Budget Committee for allowing me to engage in this democratic process. My name is Serena Nudel and I am the Director of Community Programs at TNG Community Services.

The work that the City of Toronto has done to address youth unemployment within Toronto deserves to be recognized. While employing 16,000 youth across the City divisions, agencies, boards, and commissions, you have committed to address the issue through streamlining services, increasing accessibility and inclusionary practices to hiring. At City Council in December you committed to advocate to Federal and Provincial government for additional funding for youth employment. You have created a Youth Employment Table that brings together City divisions, agencies, community organizations, employers, funders, and youth voices with a mandate of reducing systemic barriers to youth unemployment; and creating equitable, coordinated, and meaningful employment pathways for youth, with a particular focus on equity-deserving youth.

However, with Toronto facing one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Ontario, at 19.7% (October 2025), further immediate action is required to curb the growing unemployment rate in summer of 2026, particularly for Indigenous, Black, newcomer, and 2SLGBTQ+ youth who experience the greatest barriers.

We are asking, in line with the Motion approved by City Council on December 16th, that appropriate budget allocations are considered to facilitate youth employment opportunities through the Youth Employment Table. We are requesting that $1 million dollars in grant funding be allocated towards a City of Toronto Youth Employment program this summer. This would allow for the employment of 182 Youth, spread across the 44 wards of the City of Toronto. It would serve as a pilot to address youth unemployment, designed to be evaluated and refined for future iterations

Drawing on the existing partnerships within the City of Toronto Youth Employment table, this initiative will engage the community services sector, public partners, and corporate employers to create meaningful employment experiences. It will also leverage additional value through employer contributions, in-kind supports, and the generation of long-term system learning to strengthen youth employment pathways citywide.

Not only would this targeted program support youth now – early investment in youth allows us to focus on prevention, rather than intervention down-the-line. Targeting summer jobs helps close early opportunity gaps before they widen; investing early helps prevent long-term unemployment, reliance on income assistance and youth involvement with the justice system. Every dollar invested now can allow us to reduce future social service needs and public system costs. 

The summer months are high-risk periods for disengagement as youth leave more structured education settings. Providing paid work helps provide structure and routine, continual skill development, and positive adult mentorship. Keeping youth productive and engaged during the summer can keep youth connected to their communities and to local employers.

Those first jobs that many young people access while in high school are critical for building future employability.  First job experiences significantly impact the future of a youth’s employment, earning potential and career and financial stability. 

Supporting this initiative would not only align with the council’s priorities of economic development, youth well-being, community safety, and equity, but demonstrate the Council’s continued commitment to Toronto’s youth and its long-term investment into the future workforce of Toronto’s economy.

Thank you kindly for your consideration.