YEAM

Shining Light on Young Talent

Youth Employment Awareness Month (YEAM) is a national month-long initiative marked in April to raise awareness about systemic youth unemployment, connect young Canadians (ages 15–35) with employers, support organizations, business investors and advocate for favourable employment policies.

WHY YEAM MATTERS

EMPLOYEES &
JOB SEEKERS

ENTREPRENEURS

YEAM increases visibility of internships, jobs, mentorship programs, and funding streams that many youth may not know exist.
Through workshops, job fairs, and training events, youth gain critical employability skills such as like resume writing, interview techniques, and networking strategies.
YEAM encourages youth to see themselves as valuable contributors to the workforce, boosting their confidence and sense of agency, especially among racialized, Indigenous, and newcomer youth.

YEAM connects youth entrepreneurs with small business grants, incubators, and exposure to investors or customers looking to support youth-led innovation.
Entrepreneurs benefit from mentorship opportunities, entrepreneurship bootcamps, and business development services tailored to young founders.
YEAM gives youth entrepreneurs a collective voice to advocate for reduced regulatory barriers, access to credit, and youth-friendly procurement practices.

EMPLOYERS &
BUSINESS OWNERS

YEAM encourages employers to invest in training and onboarding young talent, ensuring long-term sustainability and innovation within their companies.
Employers are supported to rethink outdated requirements (e.g., "3 years’ experience for entry-level jobs") and adopt equitable hiring strategies.
Participating in YEAM builds goodwill, enhances brand reputation, and demonstrates corporate responsibility in supporting youth employment and economic recovery.

YEAM GOALS

For Employees & Job Seekers

Help youth understand available job programs, sectors hiring, and alternatives like apprenticeships, entrepreneurship or the gig economy.
Provide access to resume building, job search strategy workshops, interview coaching, and digital literacy training.
Connect youth to mentors, sponsors, internships, co-op placements, and employment opportunities that align with their passions and skills.

For Entreprenuers

Provide access to startup capital, training, and resources to turn ideas into sustainable ventures.
Promote entrepreneurship as a viable career path for youth through pitch competitions, storytelling, and peer learning.
Build networks with experienced business leaders, service providers, and customers to help youth-owned businesses grow.

Employers & Business Owners

Promote the removal of unnecessary barriers (e.g., over-experience requirements), and encourage flexible work arrangements.
Incentivize employers to offer paid internships, apprenticeships, and training programs tailored to youth.
Align youth hiring with broader DEI efforts by recruiting from underrepresented groups (e.g., Indigenous, racialized, newcomer and youth from various intersectionality spectrums).