The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) returns to Toronto for 2024 in just over two weeks, but Exhibition Place was a total crowd scene on Wednesday as thousands descended on the Enercare Centre for their shot to earn a job working at the annual summer event.

A record 37,000 candidates registered for the CNE's annual job fair this year, and organizers expected between 3,500 and 5,000 candidates to attend the in-person job fair on Wednesday morning.

blogTO was on the scene to capture the long queue of hopeful applications seeking employment at the CNE for its run from August 16 to September 2 this year.

The lineup for the CNE job fair. Are you surprised by this? pic.twitter.com/XHtHpMROh9

— blogTO (@blogTO) July 31, 2024

The lengthy queue streamed through the length of the Enercare Centre as hopefuls waited their turn to apply for positions, offering a window into the brutal employment situation in Ontario right now.

The CNE hires disproportionately from the 14-29 age group, representing 80 per cent of staff hired annually.

This is especially significant for a segment of the population experiencing high unemployment rates, with youth unemployment in Canada (ages 15-24) rising to a high of 12.8 per cent in the period from April 2023 to April 2024.

Youth unemployment in the country now stands at the highest figure seen since 2016, with a higher share of the population seeking work than during even the darkest days of 2020 and 2021.

In Ontario, this age group suffers even higher unemployment rates, exceeding the national average and ranking as some of the worst in the country at a concerning 16.5 per cent.

This is also just the latest case of long lines for employment at job fairs in Toronto and the surrounding region.

Other long lines for job fairs have been spotted at multiple restaurants, major chains like Tim Hortons and McDonald's, several malls, an LCBO warehouse, Pearson Airport, a local sports centre, and other retail businesses like Fortinos and Bath & Body Works.