Montreal has a large youth job market. Summer festivals, a big student population and the head offices of companies like CN, Bombardier, Bell, CAE and Air Canada all create entry-level work. It also has some of the strictest youth labour rules in Canada. This guide covers where Montreal youth jobs are, the Quebec rules that apply, and the free local help that most first-time job seekers never use.
Key facts
- Minimum working age: 14 in Quebec, with a few exceptions that need written parental consent (Act respecting the regulation of child labour, adopted in June 2023).
- School-year hours cap: a young person who must still attend school can work at most 17 hours a week, and at most 10 hours from Monday to Friday. This has applied since September 1, 2023.
- Minimum wage: $16.60 an hour, or $13.30 an hour for employees who receive tips. Both rates took effect May 1, 2026 (CNESST).
- Free help: Montreal has Carrefour jeunesse-emploi (CJE) offices in many neighbourhoods, for ages 16 to 35. English-speaking youth can also use YES Montreal.
- Language: French is the normal language of work in Quebec. Bilingual applicants have the widest choice.
What YouthAtWork.ca Offers Montreal Job Seekers and Employers
YouthAtWork.ca is a Canadian job board for first jobs, summer roles and early career positions.
For job seekers
High school students, Cegep and university students, and recent graduates can find entry-level listings in one place without wading through senior roles. Create a profile and browse openings at YouthAtWork.ca for job seekers.
For employers
Montreal retailers, restaurants, day camps, festival operators and corporate HR teams can post roles where young candidates are already looking. That includes seasonal staff, co-op placements, bilingual customer service and graduate intakes. Pricing and posting options are at YouthAtWork.ca for employers.
Quebec Rules Every Young Worker and Employer Should Know
Quebec's rules for young workers differ from Ontario's and those of most other provinces. The CNESST (Commission des normes, de l'equite, de la sante et de la securite du travail) enforces them.
The minimum age is 14
Since 2023, employers in Quebec generally cannot hire anyone under 14. The law makes limited exceptions, each requiring written consent from a parent or guardian. These include babysitting, tutoring or homework help, some day camp and recreational roles, and work in a family business with fewer than 10 employees. A 13-year-old applying at a grocery store or fast food restaurant will be turned down, and an employer who hires them can be fined.
The 17-hour cap during the school year
If a young person is still subject to compulsory school attendance, the cap applies. Compulsory attendance generally lasts until the end of the school year in which they turn 16. These workers can do no more than:
- 17 hours of work per week during the school year
- 10 hours of work between Monday and Friday
- Any work during school hours
The cap does not apply during summer holidays. That is why Montreal employers hire heavily for June to August and then cut teen schedules back in September. If you are 15, plan on weekend shifts plus one or two short weekday evenings during the school year.
Night work and safety
Quebec labour standards generally bar employers from scheduling workers under 18 between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., with narrow exceptions. This affects late closing shifts in restaurants, bars and cinemas. Employers must also train and supervise new young workers on health and safety. Every worker has the right to refuse work they believe is dangerous.
Wages in 2026
The general minimum wage is $16.60 an hour and the tipped-employee rate is $13.30, both effective May 1, 2026. The tipped rate covers only certain roles where tips are part of pay, such as restaurant servers. A dishwasher, cook or cashier must get the general rate. Quebec normally adjusts these rates every May 1. The CNESST website always lists the current figures.
French as the language of work
Under Quebec's Charter of the French Language, employers can require English or another language only when the job truly needs it. In practice, many Montreal customer-facing jobs ask for French plus functional English. Head office roles at CN, Bell or National Bank often ask for both. If your French is basic, say so honestly on your application and list any courses you are taking.
Where the Youth Jobs in Montreal Are
Head offices and large employers
Montreal is home to a large cluster of Canadian head offices. Employers with summer student, internship or co-op programs include:
- CN, Bombardier, CAE and Air Canada: engineering, IT, finance and operations co-ops, plus internships in aerospace and transportation
- Bell (BCE), National Bank and Hydro-Quebec: customer service, analyst, IT and engineering student roles
- Saputo, Metro and Dollarama: corporate internships, plus store, warehouse and distribution jobs
- Ubisoft Montreal and the city's gaming and VFX studios: quality assurance testing and junior technical roles
- Desjardins: large Montreal operations with customer service and banking roles open to students
Corporate internships for the following summer usually open in September to November. Students at McGill, Concordia, Universite de Montreal, UQAM, Polytechnique Montreal, HEC Montreal and ETS should watch their co-op office deadlines from early fall.
Summer festivals and tourism
Montreal's summer festivals, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs and Osheaga, hire event staff, ticket scanners, merchandise sellers and site crews. The La Ronde amusement park and businesses in Old Montreal hire ride operators, food service workers and guest service agents. Recruiting usually runs from March to May.
Day camps, pools and city programs
The City of Montreal, its boroughs and community centres hire day camp counsellors, lifeguards and recreation aides each summer. Many camps ask counsellors to hold a DAFA (Diplome d'aptitudes aux fonctions d'animateur), Quebec's standard training for camp leaders. Pool jobs require Lifesaving Society certifications such as the Bronze Cross and National Lifeguard. Both take weeks to complete, so start the training in winter if you want a camp or pool job in July.
Retail, food service and grocery
Grocery chains, pharmacies, coffee shops, quick service restaurants and dollar stores hire 14- to 17-year-olds year round, within the hours cap. Food establishments must have staff trained in food hygiene under MAPAQ, Quebec's agriculture and food ministry. A short recognized food handler course can make your application stand out.
Trades and logistics
After 16, warehouses, distribution centres and manufacturers in Saint-Laurent, Anjou and the West Island hire general labourers and order pickers. For a skilled trade, Quebec's DEP vocational diplomas lead to careers in electricity, welding, plumbing and machining. Construction sites require the general health and safety course issued under the Commission de la construction du Quebec (CCQ) framework before you can work there.
Free Help: CJEs, YES Montreal and Campus Career Centres
Carrefour jeunesse-emploi offices in Montreal
CJEs are community organizations funded to help people aged 16 to 35 find work, return to school or start a business. Services are free. Montreal offices include:
- CJE Montreal Centre-Ville, near rue Sainte-Catherine downtown
- CJE Bourassa-Sauve in Montreal-Nord, the first CJE on the island
- CJE Centre-Nord, on rue Jarry Est, serving Villeray, Saint-Michel and Parc-Extension
- CJE Ahuntsic-Bordeaux-Cartierville, on rue Lajeunesse
- CJE Cote-des-Neiges, Ville Mont-Royal et Outremont
- CJE Saint-Laurent and CJE de Verdun
Several CJEs run paid short-term projects for youth, such as the Brigade Neige residential snow clearing crews at CJE Centre-Nord and CJE Ahuntsic-Bordeaux-Cartierville. Call the office for your neighbourhood and ask for an intake appointment. Bring a draft resume if you have one.
YES Montreal for English speakers
Youth Employment Services (YES) Montreal is a non-profit that offers job search coaching, workshops and mentorship in English. It is a good fit if your French is still developing.
Campus and Cegep career services
McGill's Career Planning Service (CaPS), and the career offices at Concordia, Universite de Montreal and UQAM, post student jobs and run resume reviews. Dawson, Vanier, Marianopolis and the French-language Cegeps such as College de Maisonneuve and Cegep du Vieux Montreal have their own job boards. These are usually open only to enrolled students.
Services Quebec and federal programs
Services Quebec, formerly Emploi-Quebec, runs local employment offices and wage subsidy programs for people facing barriers to work. Canada Summer Jobs funds summer roles for people aged 15 to 30, mostly at non-profits, small businesses and public organizations. Those roles are posted on the federal Job Bank each spring.
A Montreal Job Search Plan You Can Start This Week
Step 1: Build two resumes
Write a one-page resume in French and one in English. List school projects, volunteering, sports and any certification such as DAFA, Bronze Cross or a food hygiene course. Ask a CJE counsellor to check the French version.
Step 2: Match your search to the calendar
- September to November: corporate internships for next summer, and holiday retail
- January to February: start DAFA or lifeguard training, and apply for city day camp jobs
- March to May: festival, amusement park, tourism and Canada Summer Jobs postings
- Year round: grocery, coffee shop and restaurant part-time roles
Step 3: Combine channels
Check online job boards weekly, ask your CJE about job leads, and drop off resumes in person at shops on your local commercial street. If a posting is bilingual, prepare short answers in both languages, since interviewers often switch partway through.
Hiring Youth in Montreal: An Employer Checklist
Compliance before the first shift
- Confirm the applicant's age. Do not hire anyone under 14 unless the role fits an exception and you have written parental consent on file.
- For students still in compulsory schooling, schedule no more than 17 hours a week and 10 hours from Monday to Friday during the school year. Keep records of hours worked.
- Avoid scheduling under-18s between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Pay at least $16.60 an hour. Use the $13.30 rate only for roles that actually qualify as tipped.
- Deliver health and safety training on day one and assign a named supervisor.
Sourcing and cost
CJEs and YES Montreal refer job-ready candidates at no cost. Canada Summer Jobs and Services Quebec wage subsidies can offset part of the payroll cost if you apply within their windows. Canada Summer Jobs applications usually close in winter. Posting on a youth-focused board such as YouthAtWork.ca for employers brings in applicants who are actually looking for first jobs and student roles.
Turning summer staff into future hires
Students who leave on good terms are your cheapest future recruits. A written schedule that respects the school-year cap, clear feedback and an invitation to return next summer will keep them coming back.
FAQ
How old do you have to be to work in Montreal?
Generally 14. Younger children can do only a few specific types of work, such as babysitting, tutoring or work in a small family business, and only with written parental consent.
How many hours can a 15-year-old work in Quebec during the school year?
If they still have to attend school, at most 17 hours per week, with no more than 10 hours from Monday to Friday, and never during school hours. The cap does not apply during summer holidays.
What is the minimum wage in Montreal in 2026?
It is $16.60 an hour, or $13.30 for qualifying tipped employees. Both rates took effect May 1, 2026, and they apply across Quebec.
Do I need French to get a youth job in Montreal?
For most customer-facing jobs, yes. Some technical, gaming and head office roles mostly use English, and YES Montreal helps English-speaking job seekers. Bilingual applicants have the most options.
Where can I get free job search help in Montreal?
Try your neighbourhood Carrefour jeunesse-emploi (ages 16 to 35), YES Montreal, your school's career office or a Services Quebec office. All of them are free.
Is YouthAtWork.ca only for students?
No. It also serves recent graduates and young adults looking for their first full-time role, plus the employers who want to hire them.
Start Your Montreal Search or Hire Today
Montreal's youth job market is strongest from March through August. Quebec's rules, including the age-14 minimum, the 17-hour school-week cap and the $16.60 minimum wage, apply to every hire. 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.