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Originally published in 2024 by Samar Ismail. Updated in August 2026 by Elia Yang.
Long-term unemployment means searching for work continuously for 27 weeks or more. Statistics Canada reported that 22.5% of unemployed people were in this group in April 2026, still well above the average of 17.1% recorded from 2017 to 2019, before the pandemic. Clients out of work this long are managing three problems at once: a search that has stalled, a widening gap in their work history and the toll both take on confidence. Here, we share guides, videos and articles for career counsellors looking to help their long-term unemployed clients find work.
Guiding Principles of Career Development (CERIC)
This Action Plan, based on the Guiding Principles of Career Development, offers starter questions, practical interventions and fun exercises to apply with clients who have been unemployed long term.
Underemployment among graduates: Addressing a critical career issue (CareerWise)
Statistics Canada’s most recent National Graduates Survey found that 41.2% of bachelor’s degree holders were working in roles that do not require their level of education. Lisa Higashi and Michael J. Stebleton explain what that costs graduates and offer five suggestions for career educators, from equity-driven practices to work-integrated learning.
What are the most effective ways to help long-term unemployed clients find work? (LinkedIn)
Career professionals can help their long-term unemployed clients through the six steps laid out in this LinkedIn article, which include assessing a client’s situation, helping them update their resume and supporting their transition once they do land a job, when stress and anxiety in a new environment may need managing.
Tips for finding work after long-term unemployment (Alberta Learning Information Service)
Practical ways to restart a work search that has stalled, including targeting roles that match a client’s strengths, upgrading credentials, tapping the hidden job market and using a functional resume to downplay gaps in a work history. The program is run by the Government of Alberta, and the employment supports listed at the end are Alberta-specific.
Maintaining your well-being during unemployment and job search (Career Edge)
Career Edge sets out four ways clients can protect their mental health while out of work: keeping a daily routine, building a support network, challenging the stigma attached to unemployment and seeking professional help. It closes with a list of free and low-cost counselling resources, most of them in Ontario.
How to cope with the mental effects of unemployment (Asteroid Health)
An overview of the emotional toll of job loss, the signs of depression to watch for and the approaches with evidence behind them, including cognitive behavioural therapy, peer support and structured daily goals.
A new way to represent career breaks on LinkedIn (LinkedIn News)
The 2022 announcement of LinkedIn’s career break feature lets members account for time away from work in the Experience section of their profile using 13 categories. The survey findings in the post help make the case to clients who are anxious about gaps: 51% of hirers said they are more likely to contact a candidate who explains a break.
Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee (Apple Podcasts)
Career break coach Katrina McGhee hosts this weekly podcast for mid-career professionals stepping away from work on purpose. Episodes cover the warning signs of burnout, how to talk about a break before the next step is clear and how to re-enter the workforce with confidence.
Talks to boost your confidence after a layoff (TED)
A playlist of 11 talks for clients rebuilding confidence after a job loss, on navigating change, turning a setback into progress, networking without the awkwardness and looking beyond a traditional job.
Looking for new opportunities in 2026? Here are 5 key tips from a C-suite coach (Forbes)
Executive coach Angelina Darrisaw offers five tips for people who are unemployed, underemployed or ready to change direction: leaning on a network instead of withdrawing, getting clear on the goal and how to describe it, setting a routine with measurable targets, building in-demand skills and using online tools to rebrand.
