A record-breaking number of young Canadians are vying for jobs at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) this year, as more than 54,000 applicants registered for the popular summer job fair.
The CNE, which is hiring for 5,000 seasonal positions, saw its job fair registration fill within hours after opening on July 21. Youth from across the region began lining up early this morning at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, where the fair is being held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Available roles include cashiers, retail staff, food service workers, midway operators, game attendants, and information guides. Open to applicants aged 14 and up, the fair has become a key opportunity for youth seeking employment — especially in a difficult job market where youth unemployment currently hovers around 14%, according to Statistics Canada.
Many hopefuls attending the fair are expected to be hired on the spot.
The CNE, Canada’s largest fair, returns for its 146th season from August 15 to September 1 at Exhibition Place. This year’s highlights include a Drag Brunch EXtravaganza featuring cast members from Canada’s Drag Race Season 1, the adrenaline-pumping Dinner in the Sky experience, and MYTHOS, an immersive showcase of global cultural stories. Visitors can also enjoy a skating and acrobatic performance by Elvis Stojko, the ever-popular SuperDogs, the Gaming Garage, Classic Championship Wrestling, and the Canadian International Air Show.