Rising youth unemployment demonstrates again that it’s time for change.

Job numbers released by Statistics Canada today show youth unemployment and self-employment are on the rise while overall job growth continues to stagnate.

Youth unemployment rose from June’s 12.9 per cent to 13.2 per cent in July, with 29,000 fewer young workers in full time jobs.

“It’s time for change,” said CLC president Hassan Yussuff.

“We need a new government that will commit to adequately funding initiatives like targeted paid internships and skills training for youth, and requiring that any business benefiting from federal infrastructure spending hires apprentices,” he added.

Canada’s job market also lost 34,000 public and private sector jobs in June, while the numbers of workers in the often precarious self-employed sector rose by 41,000. Over the past year, overall job growth has been stagnant, with unimpressive private sector job growth of just 0.7 per cent.

“The federal election offers Canadians the opportunity to make a better choice for the economy, one that would spur the creation of good jobs, and stop the trend of growing instability and uncertainty facing workers today,” said Yussuff.