NewsFinding Work in Toronto Is Hard Right Now. Employment Support Matters More Than Ever.
Finding work in Toronto has always taken effort. Right now, it takes more than usual.
For many people, a steady job means far more than a paycheque. It can mean stability, routine, confidence, and a clearer sense of what comes next. But that step is becoming harder to take — and for people already navigating barriers to employment, a tightening labour market does not just raise the competition. It raises the stakes.
What is happening in the job market
Across Toronto, the employment picture has become more challenging. The city’s unemployment rate is currently 7.6%, meaning more people are competing for fewer opportunities. Young people have been hit especially hard. Youth unemployment remains notably high, with some groups facing rates above 20%. At the same time, labour force participation among people aged 15 to 24 has dropped sharply, suggesting many are becoming discouraged and stepping away from the job search altogether.
A difficult job market affects many people. But it does not affect everyone the same way. For people already dealing with unstable housing, limited professional networks, or gaps in their employment history, the margin is already thin. When jobs get scarcer, they tend to be pushed further back.
Employment and housing are connected
In Toronto, employment and housing stability are closely linked. Without steady income, it is hard to afford rent. Without stable housing, it is hard to job search, attend interviews, keep a phone charged, or maintain any kind of routine. These issues are often treated as separate problems. But it is hard to separate housing stability from employment stability.
Someone may be ready and motivated to work, but still face barriers that are easy to overlook: no professional network, an outdated résumé, no money for transit or interview clothing, a gap in their work history that needs to be addressed carefully. These are not personal failures. They are barriers — and barriers can be removed with the right support.
When people can access work, they are not only earning income. They are building stability, strengthening their future, and taking a meaningful step toward rebuilding their lives.
The barriers that do not show up in a job posting
Most job postings assume a lot. They assume someone has a phone, reliable internet, a current résumé, references, interview clothing, transit fare, and an uninterrupted work history. For many people, the job search is not that simple.
A person may be looking for work while managing family responsibilities, financial pressure, health concerns, or unstable housing. They may be new to Canada and unsure how to present their experience to local employers. They may have been out of the workforce for a period of time and need help rebuilding confidence before they can walk into an interview.
None of these barriers make someone less capable. But they can make it significantly harder to get through a hiring process — and that is exactly where practical, one-on-one support makes a difference.
What effective employment support looks like
Fred Victor’s Employment and Training Services (ETS) help people move toward work with support that fits their actual situation. Funded by Employment Ontario, the program is free for Toronto residents who are legally eligible to work in Ontario — no fees, no long-term commitment.
The goal is straightforward: help job-ready people move into employment within 30 to 60 days, with real support along the way. That includes:
- One-on-one job coaching tailored to each person’s goals
- Résumé and cover letter support
- Interview preparation, including how to address employment gaps
- Direct connections to employers who are actively hiring
- Access to training, placement, and apprenticeship opportunities
- Up to one year of follow-up support after someone starts working
Where practical barriers stand in the way, the program can also help with short-term costs: transit fare for interviews, work clothing or safety gear, certification fees, phone access, or emergency childcare.
Getting someone hired matters. Helping them stay employed matters just as much.
Who the program supports
Fred Victor’s ETS is built for Toronto residents who are ready to look for work and need practical help taking the next step. The program regularly supports:
- Newcomers with work authorization
- Youth and recent graduates (18–29)
- People returning to work after caregiving or illness
- Gig or part-time workers seeking more stable employment
- People recently unemployed
- Fred Victor volunteers ready for paid work
Many participants face real, structural obstacles — employment gaps, limited Canadian work experience, lack of professional references, or uncertainty about how to present their skills. These barriers do not mean someone is not ready to work. They mean the right support can make a real difference.
The results reflect that: a 97% satisfaction rate among program participants, with hundreds of people supported into training and employment each year.
What Toronto needs right now
When the job market gets harder, employment support becomes more important — not less. People need more than job boards. They need practical help, employer connections, and support that understands the real pressures of poverty, unstable work, and housing stress.
Employment programs that meet people where they are do not just change individual lives. They strengthen the broader community by bringing motivated, supported workers into a labour market that needs them.
Fred Victor’s Employment and Training Services are free, practical, and open to Toronto residents who are ready to work.
No fees. No long-term commitment. Support to move into employment within 30–60 days — plus up to one year of follow-up after you’re hired.
