Teenagers are getting their first job younger and younger, found in recent weeks the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi Trois-Rivières / MRC des Chenaux, in Mauricie, which has received rather specific requests.
“Via our Messenger page, I received in the last weeks two parents of 12 year olds, last week, someone also 11 years old, who wanted to have information on how to find a job… surprised,” said the communications coordinator of the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de Trois-Rivières/MRC des Chenaux, Félix Dupont.
According to the main parties concerned, the situation is not abnormal.
Several high school students reported working themselves at ages 12 and 13 or their younger siblings.
However, certain precautions must be taken for young workers.
Workplace accidents among minors have increased in Quebec almost every year, from 720 in 2017 to 1,004 in 2021, according to data provided by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité au travail ( CNESST).
One death also occurred in 2019 in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and another in 2020 in the Chaudière-Appalaches region.
Before the age of 14, young people must provide parental authorization to employers in order to enter the labor market.
There are also several rules to follow and others that are common sense.
“It doesn’t matter what the job is, if the job ends at 11 a.m., midnight, the 12 or 13-year-old who goes to bed late, in terms of transport, he doesn’t have access to the car… I don’t know not, if a young person ends up at midnight alone in a place, in terms of security, you have to think about that too, ”added Mr. Dupont.
Although they are younger, they still know how to negotiate. Several students interviewed by TVA Nouvelles claimed to have negotiated their salary and schedule.
The situation is really not ideal for employers who have to make more concessions to hope to find workers.
“In a telephone interview, we are asked questions even before meeting them, to tell them what the company is, what are the conditions, the hours, the salaries of course, etc.,” said the director. General of Canac in Trois-Rivières, Daniel Vézina.
Older students, for their part, have the chance to work in their field of study.
“It’s one of our record years for placing students on internships for the summer and the employers are also there, so we’re really happy. We have a lot of students in technical programs who, this summer, will be paid in their field of study, “said the coordinator in the direction of continuing education at the Cégep de Trois-Rivières, Pascale Fraser.
“I receive, on average, between 70 and 100 new specialized offers per week on our platform at UQTR! I have employers who call me every week because they want to meet graduates or students in the process of completing their degree,” added the career information counselor affiliated with the Employment Assistance Service. at the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, Philippe Compagnon.
But these internships cause a lot of trouble for companies that usually rely on a student workforce.
“Normally, we had our students full-time in the summer, which is less the case now, who have internships, they complete with us 15-20 hours a week,” mentioned Daniel Vézina.
“I don’t see how it could go down in the next few years. There are more and more retirements,” asked Mr. Compagnon.
The puzzle will continue for businesses. Young workers will still have the upper end of the stick for a while.