Youth career barriers post-pandemic – and where to go from here
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The pandemic impacted every part of our lives, and the ripple effects are still being felt today, especially by young people living in low-income communities. For many of the students Pathways to Education works with, the return to “normal” has come with a new set of barriers they are facing, and their needs look different than they did before the pandemic.
Here are a few of the shifts we have seen firsthand:
Academic challenges
The pandemic disrupted learning in lasting ways. Some students continue to struggle with motivation, organization and concentration. Standardized test results are down, particularly in language, math and science (OECD, 2023).
Returning to in-person learning has also brought new hurdles. Larger class sizes and greater diversity of student needs (Canadian Teachers’ Federation, 2025), including higher levels of newcomer youth and students with different learning styles (Smith, Crooks, & Baker, 2021). However, schools and teachers do not have the resources to support their needs (Canadian Teachers’ Federation, 2025; Dubinski, 2025; Meilleur, 2025;).
This article is part of a themed CareerWise series exploring “Youth career readiness.” Sign up for our CareerWise Weekly newsletter to receive next week’s special issue, with articles on wraparound supports for youth facing barriers, high school student career exploration, trades pathways resources – and much more.
Economic challenges and financial needs
Financial challenges can intrinsically affect student learning. In some cases, students are forced to take on additional work to support their family, resulting in even less time to focus on their education. Additionally, the rapid rise in inflation has contributed to higher food costs. Statistics Canada reports that the cost of food has increased 19.1 per cent between 2018 and 2022, leading to a persistent increase in food insecurity (Statistics Canada, 2024). For example, 34% of Canadians living in poverty report food insecurity (Statistics Canada, 2024). These increased financial pressures mean young people must navigate an increasingly complex environment of fears of unemployment, transportation affordability and food insecurity.
Impeded social-emotional development
The effects of long-term isolation, brought on by the pandemic, have deeply affected young people’s community networks – networks that, in low-income communities, were already vulnerable (Barker et al., 2022). Many young people are experiencing concerning levels of social anxiety and depression (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2023; Statistics Canada, 2025), which may make it more difficult to engage in support networks that encourage their long-term success. Without access to trusted mentors or supportive adult relationships, it’s harder for them to build the self-confidence, communication skills and resilience they need to thrive.
Where do we go from here?
These challenges raise an important question: How can youth-serving organizations help young people adapt and succeed in a post-pandemic world? At Pathways to Education, we have seen that the key to addressing these changes is to adapt programming and allocate resources to support these emerging needs as they arise, to meet students where they are.
Take Andrea, an alum from our Lawrence Heights location in Toronto. During high school, she took on many responsibilities at home, caring for her younger sister and managing household duties while her mother worked. This often meant missing classes or arriving late, which caused some problems at school. These challenges made graduating from high school feel out of reach for her.
“… the key to addressing these changes is to adapt programming and allocate resources to support these emerging needs as they arise, to meet students where they are.”
Through mentorship sessions through the Pathways Program, Andrea was able to overcome the barriers she faced and reimagine her future. She found a community of people who supported her and who helped her stay focused on her education, regardless of what else was going on in her life. After Pathways, she went on to study Special Event Planning at George Brown College, while working as a supervisor at MLSE and a concession supervisor for a hospitality group. Just recently, Andrea graduated from college and would like to work in trade shows and live events.
Or consider Fatima, an alum from our Pointe-Saint-Charles location in Montreal. Family issues and her own mental health challenges were affecting her school performance. Her Pathways support worker helped her to develop studying techniques to help her focus on her homework. Fatima was also connected to resources for therapy, helping her take positive steps toward improving her mental health. Over time, Fatima started gaining self-confidence, improved her grades and, ultimately, graduated from high school. She is now in college, studying to become a pharmacist.
Stories like Andrea’s and Fatima’s highlight how dedicated support networks, access to mental health resources and opportunities to connect with caring adults contribute to the overall well-being and long-term success for students living in low-income communities. This benefits us all by building a more equitable economy and breaking the cycle of poverty. As the post-pandemic landscape continues to evolve, our hope is that these insights can inspire and inform others working alongside young people – so together, we can ensure that all youth have the opportunity to succeed.
