What To Do When the Job Market Is Tough: Actionable Career Advice for Women Entering Today’s Workforce

If you’ve been reading the news or hearing from recent grads in your circle, you already know: it’s a rough time to enter the workforce in Canada. Unemployment among women under twenty-five has reached 11.2 percent, the highest in two decades (Leung, 2025). It’s not just hard to get hired; for many, it's hard even to get a callback.

But here’s the thing: while the market is tough, there are real and meaningful ways to gain experience, build confidence, and grow your career. You can still move forward, just maybe in a different direction than you first expected.

Let’s talk about what’s happening, and more importantly, what you can do about it.

Understanding the Job Market Landscape

According to many Canada’s youth job market is facing a several challenges:

• A surge in the youth population (ages fifteen to twenty-four)
• A weakened labour market overall
• Ongoing economic instability and trade tensions (Leung, 2025)

These factors are converging to create an especially harsh entry point for new grads. For many women entering the workforce, the lack of opportunity in traditional roles feels discouraging.

But we’re not powerless. This is the time to get strategic.

The First Job Isn’t Just a Job. It’s a Foundation

First jobs shape confidence, skill development, and even our sense of identity. Without access to meaningful roles, it’s easy to feel behind or stuck. But if we reframe what counts as "career-building," we unlock more pathways.

"Career development is not linear. Women, especially, benefit from nonlinear experiences that support identity, learning, and adaptability" (Savickas et al., 2009).

Where to Focus Instead: Internships, Co-ops, and Volunteering

If full-time roles aren’t available, don’t wait. Lean into alternative experiences that:

• Build your skillset
• Expand your network
• Keep your confidence strong

Here’s how to do it in a way that works for you.

1. Internships: Small Roles, Big Growth

Even unpaid or part-time internships can offer:

• Hands-on experience
• Mentorship opportunities
• Exposure to industry language and expectations

Example: A client of mine, Maya (name changed for confidentiality), took a remote internship with a nonprofit focused on women’s leadership. She handled social media and outreach. After three months, they offered her a paid contract. That one internship led to a role that aligned with her values and skills.

Try this:

• Make a list of causes, industries, or organizations you admire.
• Reach out to ask if they take interns or summer project volunteers.

2. Co-op and Applied Learning Programs

If you're a student or returning to school, co-op placements are one of the most direct ways to land your first job.

• They often come with structured support
• Employers see them as a recruitment pipeline
• They're excellent for resume-building

Bonus Tip: Some programs offer funding for women in STEM or underrepresented fields, so it is worth checking through your school or provincial job programs.

3. Volunteering: More Strategic Than You Think

Volunteering isn’t just "giving back." It can be:

• A test-drive of new skills
• A confidence builder if you're changing fields
• A way to demonstrate leadership and initiative

Example: Ash (name changed for confidentiality) volunteered for a local business improvement group and organized their fall event series. That experience gave her event planning examples to highlight in interviews, and eventually led to a part-time role in municipal economic development.

Reflection Activity: Write down three skills you want to develop (e.g., project management, writing, data analysis). Then brainstorm where you could build those skills outside of paid work.

What You Can Control (And What You Can Let Go)

You can’t control the economy. You can control how you respond to it.

Use this moment to:

• Clarify what matters most to you (flexibility? purpose? creativity?)
• Experiment with low-risk ways to learn and grow
• Collect experiences that tell your story in a job interview

And remember: not every move has to be perfect. Progress is what we’re after.

Career Growth Isn’t Linear, And That’s a Good Thing

Sometimes, the most meaningful opportunities come from unexpected places. Be open to the side doors. A co-op, short-term contract, or volunteer experience might turn out to be the very thing that leads you to your next chapter.

If you’re feeling stuck, I see you. And I’m here to help you map out what’s next.

You’ve got this.

With you every step,
Jessica McKenna
Career Strategist, Acorn Avenue

References
Leung, A. (2025, May 2). This might be the worst time to enter the job market in Canada. 604 Now.
Savickas, M. L., Nota, L., Rossier, J., Dauwalder, J. P., Duarte, M. E., Guichard, J., ... & van Vianen, A. E. M. (2009). Life designing: A paradigm for career construction in the 21st century. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75(3), 239-250.