One hundred more Red Deer youth are competing for the same number of jobs as last summer.
Red Deer Service Canada Centre for Youth is reporting a 40 per cent jump in job seekers at its office.
“We’ve had a lot more people walking in (looking for jobs),” said Jennifer Thompson, lead youth services officer. “We had 250 walk-ins last year, this year about 350.”
The office opened on May 6 and since then, the youth job centre has posted 260 vacancies.
During the same period last year, 270 to 280 vacancies were open.
One-on-one sessions to get help with resumes and other job development have also been attractive.
“Our numbers have more than doubled,” Thompson said. “It’s more difficult for them to find jobs this summer, so we can help them with these one-on-one sessions.”
Formerly known as Hire a Student, the Red Deer Service Canada Centre for Youth helps match people from 12 to 30 years old with full-time, part-time or casual work.
Thompson said there is still a wealth of labour jobs to choose from.
Jobs posted range from babysitting to lab work.
One recently filled casual job was doing web design for a business.
The average pay posted in May was $12.05 an hour compared with $12.91 an hour last May.
Potential applicants can find full-time and part-time postings online at www.jobbank.gc.ca
Those looking for casual jobs must sign up at the office. Anyone under 30 years old can do so.
The office is on the second floor of 4911 51st St. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It closes on Aug. 12.
For more information, call 403-340-4250.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com