Ontario's youth employment programs have changed a lot in the past ten years, and many older guides are out of date. Summer Jobs Service shut down in 2016. Youth Job Connection now runs through Integrated Employment Services in most regions, and OYAP added an accelerated trades stream in the 2025-2026 school year. This guide covers what exists as of October 2026, who qualifies, which employers hire students, and how YouthAtWork.ca fits in for job seekers and employers.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- Ontario general minimum wage: $17.95 an hour since October 1, 2026, up from $17.60.
- Ontario student minimum wage: $16.90 an hour since October 1, 2026, up from $16.60. It applies to students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or who work during school breaks or summer holidays.
- Employment Ontario Contact Centre: 1-800-387-5656 (TTY 1-866-533-6339), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
- Canada Summer Jobs: a federal wage subsidy for jobs filled by youth aged 15 to 30.
- Summer Jobs Service: ended March 31, 2016. Don't plan around it.
- OYAP-FAST: Grade 11 and 12 students can earn 8 to 11 co-op credits in a skilled trade while working toward their diploma.
Where Ontario Youth Employment Services Stand in 2026
Employment Ontario and Integrated Employment Services
Employment Ontario is the province's network of free employment and training services, with more than 700 locations. Since 2019, Ontario has been moving these services to Integrated Employment Services (IES). IES combines Employment Ontario job search help with the employment supports that used to come through Ontario Works and ODSP. Each region now has a Service System Manager that funds local agencies.
For a young job seeker, this means there is one front door. You register with a local IES provider, and a case manager works out which supports fit you. You don't have to apply to several separately named programs. Basic IES eligibility is Ontario residency, legal working age and the right to work in Canada. The province's main page is at https://www.ontario.ca/page/employment-ontario.
What happened to Youth Job Connection
Youth Job Connection (YJC) was built for people aged 15 to 29 who were not in employment, education or training and who faced several barriers to work. It offered:
- paid pre-employment training
- paid job placements, with hiring incentives for employers
- mentorship
- help moving back into school or work
Where a region has moved to IES, YJC is no longer a separate intake. The same kinds of support now come through the IES provider's case management. Some agencies still use the YJC name on their websites, so the label you see depends on which agency you contact.
YJC Summer
Ontario's student jobs page (https://www.ontario.ca/page/summer-jobs-students) still lists Youth Job Connection Summer. It is for high school students aged 15 to 18 who face challenges such as poverty, homelessness, a disability or a mental health issue. The program offers paid training, a summer job and help returning to school when the job ends. Summer placements can last up to eight weeks. They can continue part-time into the school year, at no more than 10 hours a week, outside school hours. Call a local provider in March or April to ask if they have summer spots.
Summer Jobs Service is gone
The province ended Summer Jobs Service on March 31, 2016 and moved the funding into targeted youth programs. If a website tells you to apply to Summer Jobs Service, or tells employers to claim its hiring incentive, it is describing a program that closed a decade ago.
Who Qualifies for At-Risk Youth Supports
What providers look for
The more intensive youth supports are for young people who face several barriers at once. Ontario's own descriptions name poverty, homelessness, disability and mental health issues. Providers also take into account time out of school or work, little or no work history, and limited family support. You don't have to meet a long list of criteria. Describe your situation plainly at intake, and the case manager will decide what applies.
What to bring to a first appointment
Bring your Social Insurance Number and government ID. If you have them, also bring your most recent school transcript and any certificates such as first aid. If you have a resume, bring a printed copy, even a rough one. Providers can do more in the first meeting when they can see your actual record.
Finding a provider in Toronto
Toronto has dozens of Employment Ontario locations. A few with a youth or IES focus:
- Youth Employment Services (YES): runs an IES location at 1610 Bloor St W.
- The Career Foundation: delivers IES across the city. Call 1-855-223-8231.
- East Scarborough Storefront: offers IES in Scarborough.
Outside Toronto, call the Contact Centre at 1-800-387-5656 or search 211 Ontario for providers near you.
Student Jobs in Ontario: Wages, Ages and Real Employers
What you will be paid
As of October 1, 2026, an eligible student under 18 must be paid at least $16.90 an hour. Everyone else, including students 18 and over, must be paid at least the general minimum wage of $17.95. The student rate only applies if you work 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or if you are working during a break or summer holiday. Many larger employers pay more than the minimum, so compare offers before you accept one.
Minimum working ages
Under Ontario's workplace safety rules, the minimum age is 14 for most workplaces, such as offices and retail. It is 15 for factories (outside production areas), 16 for construction and logging, and 18 for underground mining. A 14-year-old can work at a grocery store but not on a construction site.
Employers that hire students every year
- Ontario Public Service: through its Summer Employment Opportunities program, the OPS, provincial agencies and community groups hire up to 5,000 students a year. The jobs are full-time and last 7 to 18 weeks between May and September.
- City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation: hires CampTO day camp staff, plus lifeguards and swim instructors at city pools.
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA): hires lifeguards, camp counsellors and park maintenance staff for the summer (https://trca.ca/about/careers/seasonal-jobs).
- Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP): the federal public service's student hiring program. Applications open year-round.
These employers post most of their summer jobs in winter and early spring. Lifeguard jobs require a current National Lifeguard certification, and you need Standard First Aid first. Finish those courses before the posting season starts.
Canada Summer Jobs: The Federal Program Employers Use
Who it funds
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) is a federal wage subsidy, separate from any Ontario program. Three kinds of employers can apply:
- not-for-profits, which can receive up to 100 percent of the provincial minimum wage
- public-sector employers, up to 50 percent
- private-sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees, also up to 50 percent
Employer applications usually open in late fall or early winter for the following summer. Program details are at https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs.html.
What job seekers need to know
CSJ jobs are for youth aged 15 to 30 who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, and who are legally entitled to work in Canada. Funded jobs are posted on Job Bank (https://www.jobbank.gc.ca), where you can filter for youth and summer roles. Many CSJ employers are small not-for-profits, such as day camps, food banks, sports leagues and arts organizations. Their jobs often come with more responsibility than a typical first job.
OYAP and the Skilled Trades Route
How OYAP works
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) runs through high school co-op, usually in Grade 11 or 12. Students do a co-op placement in an apprenticeable trade. They can sign a Registered Training Agreement and become registered apprentices while still working toward their diploma. Ontario reported 19,105 OYAP participants in 2024, about 2.8 percent of students in Grades 9 to 12. Ask your guidance counsellor or co-op teacher which trades your school board offers.
OYAP-FAST
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, Focused Apprenticeship Skills Training (OYAP-FAST) lets Grade 11 and 12 students earn 8 to 11 co-op credits in a trade. Students who finish get an OYAP-FAST seal on their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. It suits students who already know they want to work in a trade such as electrical, plumbing, automotive service or carpentry.
Skilled Trades Ontario
Skilled Trades Ontario started operating in January 2022, replacing the Ontario College of Trades. It sets apprenticeship training standards, runs certification exams and issues Certificates of Qualification. Its website (https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca) lists the requirements and hours for each trade.
Pre-apprenticeship if you have left school
Ontario's pre-apprenticeship programs are free and open to people aged 15 and over, including those who left school early. They can last up to 52 weeks. They cover safety, trade basics and applied math, and include an 8 to 12 week work placement arranged by the training provider.
What Ontario Employers Should Know About Hiring Youth
Pay and eligibility rules
You can pay the $16.90 student rate only to students under 18, and only within the hours and periods described above. A 17-year-old working 30 hours a week during the school year must be paid $17.95. Get this wrong across a summer crew and you will owe back pay.
Subsidized hiring routes
There are three ways to offset training costs:
- Canada Summer Jobs: wage subsidies for eligible employers.
- IES placements: local IES providers can arrange placements and hiring incentives for youth they support. Terms are set locally, so ask the provider.
- OYAP co-op: trades businesses can host co-op students and see how they work before offering an apprenticeship.
Sourcing young candidates
On general job sites, entry-level postings get buried under experienced applicants. Youth-focused boards, school co-op offices and IES job developers all reach candidates who are actively looking for first jobs. Use more than one channel, and post early. The strongest student candidates often accept offers by April.
What YouthAtWork.ca Does and Who It Is For
YouthAtWork.ca is a Canada-focused job board for youth and young adults looking for first jobs and early career roles.
For job seekers
You can browse part-time, seasonal and entry-level jobs, filter by city (including youth jobs in Toronto) and build a profile so applying is faster. It works alongside an IES provider: the provider helps you get ready, and the board shows you current postings. Start at YouthAtWork.ca for job seekers.
For employers
Retailers, camps, municipalities, not-for-profits and trades shops can post jobs to an audience looking for exactly this kind of work. CSJ employers can also post here, in addition to Job Bank, to reach more applicants. See posting options at YouthAtWork.ca for employers.
FAQ
Is Youth Job Connection still running in Ontario?
In most regions it is no longer a separate program. Its supports, including paid training, paid placements and mentorship, are delivered through Integrated Employment Services. YJC Summer is still listed on ontario.ca for high school students aged 15 to 18.
What is the student minimum wage in Ontario?
It has been $16.90 an hour since October 1, 2026. It applies to students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less during the school year, or who work during school breaks and summer holidays.
How old do I have to be for Canada Summer Jobs?
You must be between 15 and 30 years old and legally entitled to work in Canada. Funded jobs are posted on Job Bank.
How do I start an apprenticeship in high school?
Ask your guidance counsellor about OYAP or OYAP-FAST. Both run through co-op in Grade 11 and 12. Skilled Trades Ontario lists the requirements for each trade.
Who do I call to find youth employment services near me?
Call the Employment Ontario Contact Centre at 1-800-387-5656 (TTY 1-866-533-6339), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, or use live chat on ontario.ca.
Ready to Get Started
Ontario's youth employment system is simpler than it used to be: one IES front door, clear wage rules and two strong routes into summer work and the trades. Whether you are hiring or job hunting, YouthAtWork.ca serves both sides of the market. Employers can review pricing and post a role at YouthAtWork.ca for employers. Job seekers can browse openings and create a profile at YouthAtWork.ca for job seekers.