OTTAWA--Hammered by job losses, students continue to be among the hardest hit by the recession. According to a Statistics Canada report released earlier today, the unemployment rate for students aged 15-24 rose to 21% this July, breaking all previous records.

"Students who have been unable to find work this summer will be forced to take on more debt and may be unable to afford to return to school this fall," said Katherine Giroux-Bougard, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "Summer jobs are not a luxury; they pay the bills."

152,000 fewer students were able to find work in July 2009 compared to one year earlier.

Tuition fees have grown to become the single largest expense for most university and college students with average domestic tuition fees of almost $5,000 per year. Students in six provinces will face tuition fee increases of between two and eight percent this coming year.

"Despite the recession and a dismal job market, the federal government has failed to increase funding for student financial aid and take action to reduce tuition fees," said Giroux-Bougard. "By not moving to reduce students debt the government has ignored an essential part of economic recovery."

Founded in 1981, the Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students from ten provinces.