Record number of people apply for CNE summer jobs as Toronto unemployment soars

Between the unbelievable lineups of people desperate to land even an entry-level job and the frequent social media posts detailing career woes (including from individuals who have fruitlessly applied to a staggering 1,000 positions), the job market in and around Toronto has been feeling especially grim lately.

As of this summer, the city's unemployment rate has surged to a panic-inducing 8.8 per cent, with young people facing a particularly hard time securing paying gigs.

So, it's no wonder that Canada's largest festival, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), has seen a record number of folks register for its annual hiring fair ahead of this summer's 18-day event, according to a new release.

In sharing the news of the Ex's upcoming job fair on Wednesday, July 30, event organizers stated that they have already received over 54,000 applications from eager hopefuls — more than any other year, making this their busiest job fair yet.

"With youth unemployment rates at their highest levels in decades, especially in Ontario, the CNE is expecting one of the largest turnouts for its 2025 hiring event," reads a release issued on Monday.

Staff say this unprecedented, enthusiastic response is "a direct reflection of the current labour market," which includes a nearly 25 per cent joblessness rate among Ontarians aged 14-19. Seasonal roles at the CNE are particularly popular with this demographic, which made up 81 per cent of its workforce last year.

Though there are more than 5,000 vacancies to fill ahead of the event's kickoff on Aug. 15 — including for midway operators, cashiers, informational guides, food service staff, game attendants, retail associates and more — organizers will certainly have their work cut out for them as they vet all of the applications in the coming weeks.

And, of course, all of those candidates will face the challenge of standing out amid stiff competition that is set to be worse than even last year, when tens of thousands of applicants were seen waiting patiently in lineups snaking around the property.

For those interested, the job fair starts at 11 a.m. on Wednesday in Hall C of the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place, 100 Princes' Boulevard. And, as mentioned, the CNE itself starts on Friday, August 15 and runs until Labour Day, September 1. Some 1.5 million visitors are expected.