August 12, 2015 – Young Professionals and Skilled Workers Association (YPSWA) is celebrating the International Youth Day with a focus on economic independence for youth and young adults.

The generation of the youth (15-24 years old) today in Canada is the smallest in history of Canada as compared to the increase of seniors and middle age individuals, and yet a disproportionally large number of the youth are unable to exercise full potential and control over their lives and to make genuine choices. The youth as the future leaders of Canada face monumental challenges.

Creating viable and decent jobs for young people is a precondition to make their own economic choices. This lack of economic independence is causing young people to settle for part-time jobs at low-paid industries.

Economic independence for the youth and young adults is where they have access to the full range of economic opportunities and resources, including decent employment, adequate or living wages, improved livelihoods to cope with cost of living, and social protection so they can shape their lives and their future, and meet their own needs; whiles increasing outcomes for themselves, their families, decrease benefit dependence and increase productivity.

Greater economic independence is possible when the youth and young adults have quality education, training and decent work opportunities and are able to make the best use of their skills to achieve better incomes for themselves and their families over their lifetime. For most young people greater economic independence can be achieved through improved incomes and a better return on the investment in their skills. Young people can make education and employment choices that strengthen their ability to be economically independent over their lifetimes.

It is important to understand that young people are not a burden but an important social asset, a resource, the mobilization of whom may facilitate the attainment of higher social objectives in our time.

Through its programs, YPSWA, is mobilizing and bridging the youth and young adults to meaningful employment opportunities, which in turn enable them to become engaged Canadian citizens.

Happy International Youth Day!