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It’s not easy being young these days — especially where employment is concerned.

A recent report from Statistics Canada found that full-time employment among young people (17-24 years of age, excluding full-time students) has declined significantly since the late 1970s. This is not just the result of a bumpy economy. Youth are more likely to be unemployedthan the rest of the employable population, regardless of the business cycle.

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The 15-year span between 1990 and 2015, saw an average youth unemployment rate of almost 12 per cent — well above national averages for adults. And youth under-employment is estimated at 27 to 33 per cent.

The youth of today are often decried as entitled or lazy, but these stereotypes don’t reflect the realities of current employment opportunities. Increasingly, the jobs offered to youth are temporary, contract, unstable and part-time — reflecting a trend present across other OECD countries.