Partnered Partnered content Report: Youth need consistent mentoring to help navigate the job market

More young people are struggling to break into Canada’s job market than before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A new report from Mentor Canada points to mentorship as one way to help young people navigate the challenges of starting their careers. 

The report draws on perspectives from young people through the Students Commission of Canada, giving youth a direct voice in shaping the findings. 

For Cassandra Morcilla, mentorship from a Filipino community group helped guide her career path.

“I don’t think of [mentorship] as nice to have, I think of it as very important,” said Morcilla, the chair of mentorship with Kabangka.

“Mentorship definitely is the catalyst that can start everything,” she said.

Young people say learning real-world skills like communication and professionalism is one of the most important parts of mentorship, according to the new Youth Voice Report, part of Mentor Canada’s larger Mentoring as a Catalyst for Youth Employment project.

As youth move from post-secondary education to careers and adulthood, the report found that they view mentorship as holistic and that it must be delivered accordingly. Effective mentorship can help young people build career readiness while also supporting their education, mental wellbeing and confidence during key transitions, according to the report.

That support is important for young people at any stage of their career, but especially for those trying to secure their first job, according to Florence Bergeron, CEO of the Students Commission of Canada.

“A big thing right now that youth are struggling with is just finding their first opportunity,” said Bergeron.

“Especially entry-level jobs. It’s really hard. It’s very competitive to get in the market,” she said.

Canada’s youth unemployment rate peaked at 14.3 per cent in April, according to Statistics Canada, up from a pre-pandemic average of 10.8 per cent.

Mentorship can help young people overcome some of the barriers to starting their careers by connecting them with networks and opportunities they might not otherwise have access to, Bergeron added.

Research consistently shows that youth value and want mentorship, according to Véronique Church-Duplessis, Senior Director of Research and Impact at Mentor Canada.

“Young people have repeatedly told us that they value mentorship and want easier access to mentoring opportunities that are relevant to their lives. However, many obstacles remain and prevent too many youth from benefiting from the support of a mentor when they want it the most,” said Church-Duplessis.

Despite youth sharing that mentorship is critical support, the report found a lack of consistent mentorship in Canada, with some saying they were unaware mentorship opportunities existed in the first place.

It’s why Mentor Canada is advocating for more consistent, accessible and individualized mentorship to support young people as they transition into employment.

Representation matters

For many young people, representation is an important part of mentorship.

The report found Black youth particularly benefit from mentors who reflect their identity, lived experience and cultural context, as it can build trust, confidence and a sense of belonging.

“Seeing someone who looks like you, who’s able to thrive in the same industry as you where you don’t normally see someone who looks like you,” said Morcilla.

“Knowing that there is someone that’s been there where I want to go – I can do it too.”

It is a similar finding for Indigenous youth, where many must leave their communities to attend post-secondary education.

That transition can bring additional challenges, such as cultural shock and isolation, reads the report.

In response, it said mentorship must be rooted in cultural respect, healing, and community connection.

“Having someone that can relate to you on a much deeper level and helping you navigate different spaces that you don’t know how to navigate … .it definitely helps,” said Morcilla.

In her field, she’s seen newcomer youth struggle to navigate the education system, especially those from first-generation Canadian families, she said.

“That cultural humility piece, of understanding that everyone comes from different backgrounds, different understandings, different starting points.”

Language is an important part of mentor relationships with newcomers, said the report. 

The findings highlight the need for mentorship that recognizes and addresses systemic barriers rather than treating all youth experiences as the same.

What youth want

Peer-to-peer mentorship was found to be one of the most effective models, allowing young people to feel more comfortable with those closer in age who’ve recently navigated similar transitions. 

“A lot of the mentorship connections happen through personality fit,” said Bergeron.

“It’s just easier to connect and to create relationships for youth or young adults that are close enough to understand their language, to understand their reference.”

These relationships reduced power imbalances and created more honest, approachable relationships, the report found.

Young people are also looking for consistent, ongoing support that follows them through life transitions.

One-time interventions do not seem to be effective, the report added.

“Taking the time to build the relationship is key,” said Bergeron.

The report also found that young people value mentors who are good listeners, trustworthy and non-judgmental.

While young people see mentorship as a way to build new skills, get support with education and employment, and make professional connections,  mentorship can also offer emotional support, helping young people build confidence and improve their wellbeing, the report found.

Overall, the findings show that young people see mentorship as more than career support; it can also help them grow personally and navigate major transitions into adulthood.

This report will contribute to a multi-year project, Mentoring as a Catalyst for Youth Employment, aimed at helping organizations integrate mentoring into youth employment programs and improve outcomes for young people ages 18 to 30.