Edmonton youth talk about financial ‘hurt’
Rising unemployment rate could hit young people hardest, says economist
Young people may be hardest hit by a downturn in Alberta, said Edmonton’s chief economist.
John Rose expects unemployment rates to sit between 5.5 and six per cent by the end of the year, the highest since 2010.
“It’s gonna hurt,” he told reporters this week.
Many students in the city agree with him.
“It definitely concerns me,” said Victoria Osei-Bonsu, a first-year pharmacy student at MacEwan University. “Spending all this money to go to school and then wind up having nothing.”
Others are considering moving after graduation or changing programs.
Second-year student Shenese Langlois says she may look for work outside of Alberta when she finishes her program. “I hope it doesn't take a great toll on my job prospects,” she said. “I'm hoping that our economy goes back up.”
Jared Stewart is switching to a more practical program he hopes will increase his chances on the job market. While first-year student Kerian Nyemeg thinks a diploma is a good investment no matter what happens.
“We never know. I guess I'll see when the times comes. But right now I'm not worried about that.”