A new study from the Institut du Québec has found that young men in Québec aged 22–26 with university degrees are facing disproportionately high rates of unemployment. In early 2025, 11.4% of men in this group were unemployed, compared to 9.9% of all men aged 22-26 and 6.6% of women with degrees in the same age range. Institut du Québec Executive Director Emma Braham attributes the trend to job growth in health and education—fields that tend to hire more women—and slower hiring in male-dominated sectors like construction and transport. The report warns that economic uncertainty related to a potential recession and employer hesitation due to tariffs and trade issues may worsen outcomes, but emphasizes that higher education still offers long-term benefits.
