Canada's task market continues to progress in 2025 with fewer jobs but rising overall labour demand. While the headlines may point to a decrease in employment opportunities, there's more underneath the surface. As immigration remains an essential motorist of Canada's financial and group growth, these shifts offer critical insights for newbies and experienced employees exploring chances in Canada.
Here's a deep dive into the newest advancements in Canada's task vacancy trends and what they mean for prospective immigrants, companies, and policymakers.
weforum.org
Job Vacancies Decline in Early 2025
First quarter reveals dip, but not a cause for alarm. Job jobs dropped to 524,300 in Q1 of 2025-down by 20,600 from the previous quarter and 116,100 year-over-year. But this decline brings task openings close to pre-pandemic norms. Between 2017 and 2019, for example, average jobs hovered around 506,300.
Full-time tasks: Down by 14,000
Part-time jobs: Down by 6,600
Permanent roles: Down by 18,000
Temporary roles: Little to no modification
Despite fewer task listings, overall labour demand, a mix of filled and vacant positions, increased, thanks to an increase in payroll work by over 62,000.
Rising Unemployment-to-Job Vacancy Ratio
The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio increased to 2.9, a dive from 2.0 in early 2024. This suggests that there are nearly 3 task seekers per job. The rise comes from both more unemployed persons (+15.6%) and fewer task posts (-18.1%).
Which Occupations Saw the Biggest Impact?
Here's how six significant occupational groups were impacted in Q1 2025:
Overall, all ten major occupation groups saw year-over-year declines in offered functions.
Sector Spotlights
Health Sector - Despite falling by 5,400 jobs in Q1 2025, health jobs stay above pre-pandemic levels.
Top roles impacted:
Registered nurses & psychiatric nurses: -7,700
- Nurse aides & patient service partners: -4,900
- Licensed nurses: -2,700
Sales and Service - Now at its floor because late 2016, this classification still accounts for the greatest percentage of task vacancies (28.3%). Notable decreases:
- Retail salespersons & merchandisers: -3,900 - Food counter attendants: -3,800
- Customer service reps: -3,600
Trades and Transport - Jobs in this group fell by 3,300 this quarter and over 27,000 compared to last year.
Most affected roles:
- Construction labourers: -4,400 - Truck drivers: -3,700
Wages: Slower Growth however Still Rising
The provided hourly wage increased to $28.90 (+6.1% YoY). This growth, nevertheless, is slower than the 7.4% growth seen in late 2024.
Jobs needing less education saw the biggest drop in posts, while higher education jobs dropped reasonably.
Regional Job Market Variations
Five provinces and one territory saw declines:
Quebec: -9,500 British Columbia: -6,600 Alberta: -4,300 Manitoba: -1,200 New Brunswick: -700 Northwest Territories: -300
Some areas like Northwest Ontario and Laval saw an increase in job vacancy rates, showing that local need still varies extensively.
What Does This Mean for Immigration?
Despite the decrease in job openings, Canada's labour market is far from cooling down. The rise in general need and constant wage development show a labour market in flux, but not in crisis. For those considering migration, particularly through financial or provincial nominee programs, skilled employees stay in demand across healthcare, trades, and technical sectors.
weforum.org
Final Takeaway: A Balancing Labour Market
The Canada task vacancy data from Q1 2025 exposes a market adapting to post-pandemic standards. While jobs have actually dipped, strong labour demand, wage growth, and regional variations show continued opportunity. For immigrants and job applicants with the right abilities, Canada still provides an appealing future. Stay tuned to ImmigCanada for real-time updates, expert insights, and assistance tailored to your Canadian migration journey.