A record number of job seekers are expected to attend the Canadian National Exhibition’s (CNE) annual job fair on Wednesday, as young workers across Ontario struggle to find employment.
Organizers say interest in this year’s hiring event is unprecedented, with a record-breaking 54,000 online applications submitted — the most in the long-standing fair’s history.
The surge in applications comes amid long lineups for jobs observed across the GTHA and Ontario in recent months, as many young people compete for limited employment opportunities.
The job fair is set for July 30 at 11 a.m., offering more than 5,000 seasonal positions ahead of the CNE’s much-anticipated return on Aug. 15. The fair will be held in Hall C of the Enercare Centre, located at 100 Princes’ Blvd. in Exhibition Place.
Available roles include cashiers, retail associates, game attendants, food service staff, midway operators, and informational guides. People aged 14 years and older were encouraged to apply. Registration for the 2025 CNE job event is now full.
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Positions offered by the CNE are ideal for youth and entry-level job seekers – a demographic significantly impacted by Ontario’s current labour market challenges.
According to Statistics Canada, the national unemployment rate for youth aged 15 to 24 was over14 per cent, as of June 2025. In Ontario, the unemployment rate is nearly 16 per cent. Nearly one in four teenagers between 14 and 19 are currently unemployed, according to statistics.
In June, the unemployment rate fell slightly to 6.9 per cent in Canada, marking the first decline since January. Prior to this drop, the unemployment rate rose for three straight months reaching its highest level (7%) in May since Sept. 2016, excluding 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In 2024, 81 per cent of the CNE’s workforce identified as youth ages 14 to 29. Meanwhile, 78 per cent identified as visible minorities, along with 15 per cent of those who identified as having a disability.
The CNE, along with its partners, says it collectively generates more than 5,000 jobs each year. So far, more than 1,000 people have already been hired to work at Canada’s largest seasonal fair this year.
The 2025 CNE is set to run from Aug. 15 to Sept. 1., following back-to-back years of high attendance, with nearly 1.5 million visitors in 2024.
