Tory asks Toronto’s businesses to hire more young people
Posted April 13, 2015 2:39 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Mayor John Tory says it unacceptable that 1 in 5 young Torontonians can’t find a job and he is calling on the city’s business community to change that statistic.
“I know employers have the muscle and the heart. I need them to flex that muscle to help the unemployed youth of the city,” Tory said at a news conference on Monday.
Tory is challenging the city’s employers to “join the 10 per cent challenge,” and make 10 per cent of new hires through a City of Toronto program that helps young people find work.
The Partnership to Advance Youth Employment program connects young people with potential employers by offering resume and interview training for youth while pre-screening candidates for the employers.
During the election campaign Tory pledged to double the number of participating employers from the 100 that had already signed on.
He announced on Monday that 19 new companies had already agreed to sign on.
The challenge was issued at a Starbucks, one of the companies that has already accepted the challenge.
The coffee chain has committed to hiring 150 young people through the program over the next year, with an added commitment to youth from Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas.
“Step up employers, please take the 10 per cent challenge. Starbucks Canada has shown the way. It’s good for business. It’s good for the kids. It’s good for all of us,” Tory said.
