Are you a teenager and wondering what you can do over the summer to earn some money? Maybe you are the parents of teenagers and want to get them a head start in the workforce. Summer jobs are a great way to earn some spending money. Teens can use summer jobs to get savings started or prepare for higher education. Summer jobs allow teenagers to join the workforce and get valuable experience. Many organizations help to find summer jobs for teens. Ultimately, it is beneficial for teens to find summer jobs. It gives them something to do, gives them experience, and helps establish a work ethic. Continue reading to learn more about summer jobs for teens in Canada below!
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Can you get a job at 15 in Canada?
The age someone can start working in Canada ranges by province. Most provinces allow 15-year-olds to begin working. Some provinces require parental permission to start working at 15 or younger. The type of work young workers can do maybe be limited. For example, in Ontario, you must be at least 16 years old to work in a factory. The number of hours a teenager can work may be limited, to prioritize schooling. Most provinces do not allow youth to be working during school hours. Some provinces do not let students work overnight either. Many provinces impose a 2 to 3 maximum hours work per day when school is in session. Most of these rules do not apply to summer jobs for teens, as they are working when school is out.
In summary, the age you can work in Canada varies. One necessary piece of information every Canadian worker must have is their Social Insurance Number (SIN). Children 12 and older may apply for their SIN. See below for details on each province. Many provinces have their minimum wages set to increase on October 1st, 2023.
Related Reading: When to Teach Kids About Money
Alberta
- The minimum age of employment is 13 years old, and parental consent is required.
- The student minimum wage is $13/hour.
- Students must be paid general minimum wage ($15/hour) for any hours worked over 28 hours per week.
- There is a restriction on how many hours students aged 13 and 14 can work on a school day.
- There are restrictions on how late students can work.
British Columbia
- The minimum age of employment is 12 years old, and parental consent is required.
- At 16 years old a student may work without parental consent
- Student minimum wage is $16.75/hour, on par with the general minimum wage.
- There is a restriction on how many hours students aged 12-14 can work on a school day/week.
Manitoba
- The minimum age of employment is 13 years old.
- 13–15-year-olds must complete the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course
- Student minimum wage is $14.15/hour, on par with the general minimum wage.
- There is a restriction on how many hours students aged 13 and 14 can work on a school day.
- There are restrictions on how late students can work.
New Brunswick
- The minimum age of employment is 14 years old.
- Student minimum wage is $14.75/hour, on par with the general minimum wage.
- There is a restriction on how many hours students can work on a school day.
- There are restrictions on how late students can work.
Nova Scotia
- The minimum age of employment is 14 years old.
- No restrictions on what type of work youth can do.
- Student minimum wage is $14.50/hour, on par with the general minimum wage.
Ontario
- The minimum age of employment is 15 years old. Some jobs allow teens to start working at 14.
- Student minimum wage is $14.60-$15.60
- Students are paid more when they work over 28 hours a week. They are also paid more when they work on a school break.
- Cannot work during school hours.
Prince Edward Island
- No minimum age to work.
- Student minimum wage is $14.50/hour, on par with the general minimum wage.
- There is a restriction on how many hours students can work on a school day.
- There are restrictions on how late students can work.
Quebec
- The minimum age of employment is 14 years old.
- Younger youth can begin working with parental consent.
- Student minimum wage is $15.25/hour, on par with the general minimum wage.
- Cannot work during school hours.
- There are restrictions on how late students can work.
Saskatchewan
- The minimum age of employment is 14 years old.
- 14–15-year-olds must complete Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course.
- Student minimum wage is $13/hour, on par with the general minimum wage.
- There are restrictions on how late and how much 14- and 15-year-olds can work.
Do teens need a resume for summer jobs?
Many summer jobs for teens do not require resumes. Employers understand they are hiring individuals with no experience to do simple jobs with training. There will be applications for teens to fill out. These applications give employers an understanding of the teens’ background.
However, many teens will make a resume to stand out and look professional. There are great articles on crafting resumes for teenagers. The resumes do not need to be overly complicated. They can highlight academic achievement, volunteering, sports accomplishments, and/or relevant hobbies and interest. A resume gives a potential employer a snapshot of who you are and why they should hire you. Even a relatively simple resume shows employers a teen is serious about wanting to work. It is still good practice to submit a resume. Even if you face rejection, it’ll be a good learning experience for applying to the next job!
What are good summer jobs for teens?
Summer jobs for teens can be in any sector. Various industries benefit from having extra employees over the summer. There are jobs simpler for teens to learn and perform well at. Summer jobs for teens are environments that will be patient and foster a good work ethic.
Consider this Government of Canada job bank search tool for youth. Or use this Ontario Government resource for a variety of youth jobs in various fields.
1. Summer Intern
Many companies hire summer student interns. Mainly to accomplish high volumes of data processing/data entry work. Do not let the idea of repetitive work deter you. Summer internships are great ways to get insights into future career prospects and network. Internships give you a good overview of what a certain field entails. It gives you manageable work to keep you active and useful. Many large companies and even government agencies look for summer student interns.
2. Landscaping
Landscaping is one of the great and many summer jobs for teens. From lawn care and maintenance to gardening and tree planting. Summer jobs are abundant in landscaping and require little experience — just high work ethic and a little muscle! Many companies seek students for this seasonal work. Once you have some experience, it may even become a business you want to do on your own, if you are a young entrepreneur.
3. Lifeguard/Swimming Instructor
Lifeguarding and swim instruction are additional summer jobs for teens. With warm waters, beaches, indoor and outdoor pools. Many community centers, cities and towns need lifeguards over the summer. This will require a teen to be a strong swimmer and get certified.
4. Pool Cleaner
Not into the lifeguarding thing? Consider being a pool cleaner instead! Another job that is in demand and seasonal is pool cleaning and maintenance. Many companies hire teens for these summer jobs. You can still spend time outside and enjoy the view from various nice backyards.
5. Camp Counsellor
If experiencing summer and outdoor activities are important to you, being a camp counsellor may be a good choice for a summer job. Building bonds with campers and counsellors can be expansive. If you are an active and social teen, this may be the perfect summer job for you. While this is not the most lucrative summer job, it can be one of the most enjoyable. Your food and accommodations are paid for. You also get to see the impact you have on younger children enjoying their summers. In addition, if you’re interested in a career in social work or helping people, being a camp counsellor is a good building block.
6. Coach/Referee/Scorekeeper
You’ve probably guessed by now; the best summer jobs are seasonal jobs. In the summertime, there is an abundance of child and youth sports teams. They need coaches, referees, and scorekeepers to make sure games are run properly. Many summer jobs for teens involve working with recreational sports leagues for children. If you’re an active teen who has developed a skill in a particular sport, this could be a great job for the summer months.
Related Reading: Financial Planning Tips for Students and Young Professionals
7. Tutor
Is there a subject you are good at and can teach to someone else? Are you academically savvy? Becoming a math or spelling tutor for someone else may be a great opportunity. If you aspire to becoming a teacher or educator, tutoring can help you get insight into the career. It helps you learn how to teach ideas to people who struggle with subjects. This can be a challenging summer job. It requires patience and the ability to clearly explain concepts, but it’s rewarding!
8. Dog Walker/Pet Sitter
If you like dogs, dog walking can be a lucrative summer job. Either find the ad of a local dog walker seeking additional dog walkers or post on Rover.com to find your clients. Rover.com also allows you to list services for pet sitting, whether its cats, dogs or other pets. If you do good work oftentimes clients will refer you to many more.
9. Theme Park Attendant
Theme parks are generally only open in the summer months. They offer lots of summer jobs for teens. Working in their souvenir shops, operating rides, food services, guest services, cleaning, and many more jobs. If you want a fun summer job, working in theme parks may be for you!
10. Retail Worker/Cashier/Stocker
Working in retail can be a great year-round part-time job, but you can always start in the summer. There are also great summer jobs for teens in retail. You can be a customer service representative working in sales, a cashier, or a stocker. Depending on how sociable you are there are a wide variety of jobs to choose from in the retail sector. Many offer transferable skills to future employment opportunities.
11. Zoo Worker/Animal Shelter Worker
Zoos are much like theme parks, in that there are a wide variety of summer jobs for teens. It may be something to consider if you love animals and would like to see them every day. Most jobs won’t have teens working directly with animals, but it would still be a good environment. This is especially true if you want a career as a vet or other related animal profession. If you want more direct contact with animals, consider working in an animal shelter.
12. Fast Food Worker
A staple first job for many teens is working at a fast-food restaurant like McDonald’s or Burger King. There is an abundance of positions available in this sector. Even small towns have a handful of fast-food options that likely have summer jobs for teens. If your town does not have big chains, they likely have thriving mom-and-pop shops that need extra staff in the summer months.
13. Movie Theater Staff
If you love movies, working at a movie theater may be your way to see more movies. Cineplex is Canada’s largest theatre chain and they always hire staff for many positions. With many new films coming out and the movie industry opening up again, theaters everywhere likely need an extra hand!
Finding summer jobs for teens
Finding summer jobs for teens is an important rite of passage. Everyone needs a first job. It teaches valuable life skills. You learn to get along with others, develop people skills, money management skills, and time management skills. A teen could be looking for a job for many reasons. To have some spending money, savings for their future, or getting needed experience. Or maybe it’s just a way to spend your time if you’re bored!
It is also an opportunity to figure out what kind of work a teen likes and dislikes. It is awkward and clumsy finding your first job. A first job and the process of getting one helps you learn many life skills. Including resume building, interviewing, dealing with rejection, and many more necessary experiences.
Finding a job won’t be easy, but there is lots of summer jobs for teens. More ambitious teens can look to start their own summer businesses. The government of Ontario has a great program for youth starting their own summer business. Youth Employment Services (YES) is a great organization to help youth find jobs. Good luck on your job search!
Read More: 10 Cheap Things to do this Summer in Canada