Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily — https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250318/dq250318b-eng.htm

Job vacancies, fourth quarter 2024

Released: 2025-03-18

Job vacancies hold steady in the fourth quarter Job vacancies were virtually unchanged in the fourth quarter at 547,800, following nine consecutive quarters of decline since peaking at 983,600 in the second quarter of 2022. Job vacancies held steady for full and part-time as well as permanent and temporary positions in the fourth quarter of 2024. Year over year, job vacancies were down for both full-time (-16.8%; -84,200) and part-time (-24.2%; -42,400) positions. Job vacancies were also down on a year-over-year basis for permanent (-18.2%; -99,700) and temporary (-21.4%; -26,800) positions. Total labour demand (the sum of filled and vacant positions) rose by 24,900 (+0.1%) in the fourth quarter due to an increase in payroll employment (+24,700; +0.1%). The job vacancy rate—which corresponds to the number of vacant positions as a proportion of total labour demand—also held steady in the fourth quarter at 3.1%. On a year-over-year basis, the job vacancy rate was down 0.7 percentage points. Unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio continues to trend upwards There were 2.8 unemployed persons for every job vacancy in the fourth quarter, compared with 2.7 in the previous quarter. This increase was due to an uptick in unemployment (+53,500; +3.7%, as measured by the Labour Force Survey [LFS]), as the number of vacancies was little changed in the fourth quarter. The overall unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio has trended up since the third quarter of 2022, when it was 1.1. The steady increase in this ratio over this period was driven by fewer job vacancies (-408,800; -42.8%) and more unemployed persons (+455,000; +43.2%, as measured by the LFS).

Infographic 1

Unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio continues to rise, as unemployment increases in the fourth quarter

Job vacancies down in two broad occupational groups and up in two In the fourth quarter, job vacancies were up in health occupations (+2,800; +3.5%) and occupations in manufacturing and utilities (+900; +5.5%). These increases were partially offset by declines in occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (-2,500; -4.6%) and legislative and senior management occupations (-300; -24.2%). Vacancies were little changed in the remaining six broad occupational groups. On a year-over-year basis, the number of job vacancies was down in all 10 broad occupational groups, led by sales and service occupations (-52,200; -25.5%), trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (-34,100; -25.1%), and occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (-11,500; -18.1%). Year over year, the proportion of long-term vacancies—vacancies for which recruitment efforts have been ongoing for 90 days or more—was down in 8 of the 10 broad occupational groups in the fourth quarter. The largest decreases were in occupations in legislative and senior management occupations (-16.4 percentage points to 22.2%) and occupations in manufacturing and utilities (-10.4 percentage points to 25.6%). The lone group to see an increase in the proportion of long-term vacancies was business, finance and administration occupations (+2.7 percentage points to 24.1%) (not seasonally adjusted).

Chart 1

Quarter-over-quarter percentage change in vacancies varies across broad occupation groups

More job vacancies in health occupations Job vacancies in health occupations rose by 2,800 (+3.5%) to 81,700 in the fourth quarter, after two consecutive decreases totalling 13,000 (-14.1%) from the first quarter to the third quarter. Year over year, vacancies in health occupations were down by 10,300 (-11.4%) in the fourth quarter. Among the 43 occupations within this broad occupational group, 8 occupations recorded a decline in vacancies over this period. Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (-5,500 to 23,300), nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (-2,800 to 18,200) and licensed practical nurses (-2,600 to 10,700) accounted for the largest decreases. Combined, these three occupations accounted for just under two-thirds (65.4%) of the total vacancies in health occupations in the fourth quarter (not seasonally adjusted). Little change in job vacancies in sales and service occupations Job vacancies in sales and service occupations were little changed in the fourth quarter after eight consecutive quarters of decline. Compared with the peak in the fourth quarter of 2021 (345,500), vacancies in sales and service occupations were down by 193,100 (-55.9%). Year over year, job vacancies in sales and service occupations fell by 52,200 (-25.5%) in the fourth quarter, the largest decline of all the broad occupational groups. This decline accounted for 41.3% of the total yearly declines. Within this broad occupational group, vacancies for food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (-9,500 to 25,500), retail salespersons and visual merchandisers (-8,200 to 20,900), and store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers (-6,100 to 6,700) recorded the largest year-over-year declines in the fourth quarter (not seasonally adjusted). Despite the decreases, vacancies in sales and service occupations were the highest among the 10 broad occupational groups, accounting for 27.8% of the total number of vacancies in the fourth quarter. Average offered hourly wage continues to grow On a year-over-year basis, the average offered hourly wage for vacant positions was up 7.4% to $28.30 in the fourth quarter, following a 7.6% increase to $27.55 in the third quarter and an increase of 6.8% to $26.80 in the second quarter (data in this section are not seasonally adjusted). In comparison, the average hourly wages for all employees (from the LFS) were up by 4.4% in the fourth quarter, down from 5.0% in the previous quarter. Recent increases in average offered hourly wages for vacant positions were partly due to a shift in the relative composition of job vacancies towards occupations that typically offer higher wages. Using a method that holds constant the composition of job vacancies by occupation (based on the composition observed in the fourth quarter of 2023), average offered hourly wages grew by 5.0% on a year-over-year basis in the fourth quarter of 2024, down slightly from 5.1% in the third quarter, but up from 4.2% in the second quarter. Largest decline in vacancies for positions requiring a high school diploma or less Compared with a year earlier, there were fewer vacant positions for the four combined educational levels sought by employers in the fourth quarter. Positions requiring a high school diploma or less decreased by 91,400 (-26.7%), accounting for 70.9% of the overall year-over-year decline in job vacancies (data in this section are not seasonally adjusted). There were 2.4 unemployed persons with a high school diploma or less for every job vacancy requiring this level of education in the fourth quarter, up from 1.5 in the same quarter of 2023. In comparison, the number of vacancies for positions requiring a bachelor's degree or higher fell 6.8% (-6,500) over the same period. The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio for this level of education was 4.8 in the fourth quarter, up from 3.3 in the same quarter of 2023. This increase in the fourth quarter of 2024 was mostly attributable to more unemployed persons with a bachelor's degree or higher level of education (+107,400; +34.4%). The average offered hourly wage for job vacancies requiring a bachelor's degree or higher was $42.75 in the fourth quarter, nearly twice that for vacancies requiring a high school diploma or less ($21.60).

Infographic 2

Positions requiring a high school diploma or less continue to account for the largest share of the total decline in job vacancies, year over year

Fewer job vacancies in 5 of 69 economic regions In the fourth quarter, job vacancies were down in Alberta (-3,300 to 66,400) but up in Quebec (+6,300 to 130,500) and Prince Edward Island (+300 to 2,800). Job vacancies were little changed in the remaining provinces and territories. At the regional level, job vacancies in the fourth quarter were down in Lower Mainland-Southwest, British Columbia (-4,000 to 56,400); Ottawa, Ontario (-2,000 to 15,600); Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (-700 to 2,100); Cariboo, British Columbia (-700 to 2,800); and Outaouais, Quebec (-600 to 3,400). Meanwhile, increases in job vacancies were reported in seven regions, led by Laurentides, Quebec (+2,700 to 10,600), Northeast, Ontario (+1,200 to 9,100), and Estrie, Quebec (+1,100 to 9,100). Vacancies were little changed in the remaining economic regions. Year over year, job vacancy rates were down in 56 of the 69 economic regions in the fourth quarter. The biggest declines were in Cariboo, British Columbia (-2.0 percentage points to 4.0%), Yorkton-Melville, Saskatchewan (-1.6 percentage points to 4.1%), Muskoka-Kawarthas, Ontario (-1.6 percentage points to 3.2%), and Stratford–Bruce Peninsula, Ontario (-1.6 percentage points to 2.7%). Meanwhile, job vacancy rates increased in three economic regions: Parklands and North, Manitoba (+1.0 percentage points to 6.2%), Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec, Quebec (+0.8 percentage points to 5.1%), and Prince Edward Island (+0.4 percentage points to 3.8%). Parklands and North, Manitoba had the highest job vacancy rate across all economic regions in the fourth quarter. The remaining 10 economic regions were little changed.

Chart 2

10 economic regions with the highest and lowest job vacancy rates

Map 1

Job vacancy rate by province and territory, fourth quarter of 2024

Table 1 The 10 occupations with the largest annual decreases in job vacancies and their average offered hourly wage, fourth quarter of 2024

Table 2 The 10 occupations with the largest annual increases in job vacancies and their average offered hourly wage, fourth quarter of 2024

Note to readers

The Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS) provides comprehensive data on job vacancies and offered wages by industrial sector and detailed occupation for Canada and the provinces, territories and economic regions. Additional information is also available by occupation, such as the proportion of job vacancies for full-time and part-time positions, the duration of job vacancies, the levels of education and experience sought for the job, and other characteristics. Job vacancy, offered wage, and vacancy characteristics data are released quarterly. Estimates by sector are based on the North American Industry Classification System 2022 Version 1.0. Estimates by geographical area are based on the Standard Geographical Classification 2021. Estimates by occupation reflect the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. The NOC is a five-tiered hierarchical structure of occupational groups with successive levels of disaggregation. The structure is as follows: (1) 10 broad occupational categories, also referred to as one-digit NOC; (2) 45 major groups, also referred to as two-digit NOC; (3) 89 sub-major groups, also referred to as three-digit NOC; (4) 162 minor groups, also referred to as four-digit NOC; and (5) 516 unit groups, also referred to as five-digit NOC. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection for the JVWS was suspended for the second and third quarters of 2020. Preliminary monthly estimates are produced for job vacancies and job vacancy rates by province and by industrial sector. These preliminary monthly JVWS estimates are released on a monthly basis with the estimates from Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours. More information about the concepts and use of data from the JVWS is available in the Guide to the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (Catalogue number75-514-G). The target population of the survey includes all business locations in Canada, excluding those involved primarily in religious organizations and private households. Federal, provincial, and territorial, as well as international and other extraterritorial public administrations, are also excluded from the survey. Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted estimates, which facilitate comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions. Seasonally adjusted quarterly job vacancy data are available online (tables 14-10-0398-01, 14-10-0399-01 and 14-10-0400-01). The analyses of the job vacancy levels and rates by sector (20 broad industrial sector groups), one-digit NOC (10 broad occupational categories), province and economic region are based on seasonally adjusted data. However, the analyses of the job vacancy levels and rates by subsector, two-digit NOC, three-digit NOC, four-digit NOC, and five-digit NOC are based on non-seasonally adjusted data. The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio excludes the territories for consistency with the geographic coverage of the Labour Force Survey. This analysis focuses on differences between estimates that are statistically significant at the 68% confidence level. Data tables Tables 14-10-0325, 14-10-0326, 14-10-0328 and 14-10-0356 have now been archived. They have been replaced with 14-10-0441-01, 14-10-0442-01, 14-10-0443-01, and 14-10-0444-01, respectively, presenting the new classifications. Data tables are updated on March 18, 2025. Next releases Data on job vacancies from the JVWS for the first quarter of 2025 will be released on June 17. Preliminary monthly data on job vacancies from the JVWS for January 2025 will be released on March 27.

Products

More information about the concepts and use of data from the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey is available online in the Guide to the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (Catalogue number75-514-G). The product "Labour Market Indicators, by province, territory and economic region, unadjusted for seasonality" (Catalogue number71-607-X) is also available. This dynamic web application provides access to Statistics Canada's labour market indicators for Canada, by province, territory and economic region, and allows users to view a snapshot of key labour market indicators, observe geographical rankings for each indicator using an interactive map and table, and easily copy data into other programs.

Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily — https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250916/dq250916b-eng.htm

Job vacancies, second quarter 2025

Released: 2025-09-16

Job vacancies fall in the second quarter of 2025 Job vacancies fell by 18,900 (-3.6%) to 505,900 in the second quarter of 2025, following a decrease of 20,000 (-3.7%) in the first quarter. Compared with the second quarter of 2024, job vacancies were down by 72,900 (-12.6%) in the second quarter of 2025. The number of vacancies in the second quarter was the lowest recorded since the first quarter of 2018 (501,500). In the second quarter of 2025, job vacancies fell in full-time positions (-20,300; -5.1%), while there was little change for part-time positions. Vacancies fell in both permanent (-14,600; -3.4%) and temporary (-4,300; -4.5%) positions. Total labour demand (the sum of filled and vacant positions) fell by 54,800 (-0.3%) in the second quarter due to a combined decrease in both job vacancies (-18,900; -3.6%) and payroll employment (-36,000; -0.2%). The job vacancy rate—which corresponds to the number of vacant positions as a proportion of total labour demand—fell by 0.1 percentage points to 2.8% in the second quarter. On a year-over-year basis, the job vacancy rate was down 0.4 percentage points.

Infographic 1

Total labour demand falls in the second quarter of 2025, following two quarters of consecutive increases

The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio is highest for positions requiring a bachelor's degree or above The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio—the number of unemployed persons per job vacancy—rose to 2.9 in the second quarter of 2025, up from 2.2 in the second quarter of 2024. The ratio rose across all educational levels over this period. The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio excludes the territories for consistency with the available Labour Force Survey data (data in this section are not seasonally adjusted). The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio was highest for positions requiring a bachelor's degree or higher, at 4.9 in the second quarter of 2025. Compared with the second quarter of 2024, there was nearly one additional unemployed person for each vacancy requiring a bachelor's degree or higher (+0.9) in the second quarter of 2025, the biggest increase across all educational levels. In comparison, in the second quarter, there were 2.7 unemployed persons per job vacancy requiring other non-university certificates and university certificates below a bachelor's degree and 2.5 unemployed persons for each vacancy requiring a high school diploma or less. Across all education levels, the unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio was lowest for positions requiring a trade certificate or diploma, at 1.8 in the second quarter.

Chart 1

Year over year, unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio is up in all levels of education

In the second quarter, the average offered hourly wage for job vacancies requiring a bachelor's degree or higher was $43.60. This is more than twice the average offered hourly wage for vacancies requiring a high school diploma or less ($21.65). Job vacancies down in six broad occupational groups and up in one In the second quarter of 2025, job vacancies decreased in six broad occupational groups: trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (-5,900; -6.1%); health occupations (-5,600; -7.5%); business, finance and administration occupations (-3,300; -4.7%); occupations in education, law and social, community and government services (-2,000; -4.0%); occupations in manufacturing and utilities (-1,500; -8.4%); and legislative and senior management occupations (-300; -23.3%). Meanwhile, occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport (+900; +9.5%) was the only broad occupation group to record an increase in job vacancies in the second quarter. On a year-over-year basis, the number of job vacancies was down in 9 out of 10 broad occupational groups in the second quarter, led by health occupations (-18,100; -20.8%), sales and service occupations (-16,100; -9.7%) and trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (-15,700; -14.7%). Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport was the only occupational group to see little change year over year.

Chart 2

Year over year, job vacancies decrease in 9 out of 10 broad occupational groups

Proportion of long-term vacancies decreases across Canada Long-term vacancies are a key indicator of labour market conditions, reflecting the number of days a position remains unfilled despite active recruitment efforts. In the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey, a vacancy is considered long-term when recruitment efforts have been ongoing for 90 days or more. These vacancies can point to challenges in recruitment, labour market tightness or inefficiencies in the hiring processes. The proportion of long-term vacancies across Canada was 27.5% in the second quarter of 2025, a 2.6 percentage-point decrease from the second quarter of 2024 (30.1%). Across the broad occupational groups, the largest year-over-year decreases in the second quarter of 2025 were in occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport (-8.7 percentage points to 19.6%), business, finance and administration occupations (-4.6 percentage points to 17.4%), trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (-4.0 percentage points to 29.9%) and sales and service occupations (-1.8 percentage points to 23.2%) (not seasonally adjusted). Vacancies in health occupations continue to decline Job vacancies in health occupations fell by 5,600 (-7.5%) to 68,900 in the second quarter of 2025, extending the decline recorded in the first quarter. Year over year, vacancies in health occupations were down by 18,000 (-20.7%) in the second quarter. Despite this decline, job vacancies in health occupations remained significantly above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels (39,000 in the fourth quarter of 2019). The largest year-over-year decreases in the second quarter of 2025 were in vacancies for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (-8,200 to 19,500), nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (-3,900 to 14,100) and licensed practical nurses (-3,600 to 8,700). Together, these three occupations accounted for 61.2% of the total vacancies in health in the second quarter (not seasonally adjusted). Job vacancies fall in trades and transport and equipment operators and related occupations In the second quarter of 2025, job vacancies fell by 5,900 (-6.1%) to 90,700 in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations. The decrease was attributable to full-time vacant positions (-7,000; -7.8%), as part-time vacant positions (+1,200; +16.7%) recorded an increase. On a year-over-year basis, the number of vacant positions in the second quarter in the trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations broad occupational group was down by 15,900 (-13.9%). The largest declines in vacancies within this occupational group were construction trades helpers and labourers (-3,800 to 10,600) and transport truck drivers (-2,700 to 12,600) (not seasonally adjusted). Fewer job vacancies in business, finance and administration occupations Job vacancies in business, finance and administration occupations declined by 3,300 (-4.7%) to 66,300 in the second quarter of 2025. On a year-over-year basis, job vacancies in business, finance and administration occupations were down by 11.1% (-8,700) in the second quarter. Within this broad occupational group, the largest year-over-year declines were in administrative officers (-2,000 to 4,000), shippers and receivers (-1,800 to 2,500) and financial auditors and accountants (-1,000 to 2,700) (not seasonally adjusted). Year-over-year growth of average offered hourly wage decelerates in the second quarter On a year-over-year basis, the average offered hourly wage for vacant positions was up by 4.5% (+$1.20) to $28.00 in the second quarter of 2025, following a 6.1% year-over-year increase to $28.90 in the first quarter (data in this section are not seasonally adjusted). In comparison, the average hourly wage for all employees (as measured by the Labour Force Survey) was up by 3.3% in the second quarter, following an increase of 3.6% in the previous quarter. Recent increases in average offered hourly wages for vacant positions were partly due to a shift in the relative composition of job vacancies towards occupations that typically offer higher wages. Using a method that holds constant the composition of job vacancies by occupation (based on the composition observed in the second quarter of 2024), average offered hourly wages grew by 4.1% on a year-over-year basis in the second quarter of 2025, down from a 4.7% year-over-year increase in the first quarter. Job vacancies down in five provinces In the second quarter of 2025, job vacancies decreased in Quebec (-7,600 to 113,300), Ontario (-7,300 to 179,000), Manitoba (-1,000 to 18,700), Newfoundland and Labrador (-800 to 4,600) and Prince Edward Island (-500 to 2,000). There was little change in the other provinces and territories. On a year-over-year basis, the job vacancy rate was down in 44 of the 69 economic regions in the second quarter, with the largest decreases being in the Northwest Territories (-2.4 percentage points to 3.3%), Parklands and North, Manitoba (-2.1 percentage points to 4.3%), and South Coast–Burin Peninsula and Notre Dame–Central Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador (-1.5 percentage points to 1.9%). Meanwhile, the job vacancy rate rose in three regions: Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec (+0.5 percentage points to 3.0%), Laval, Quebec (+0.4 percentage points to 2.8%), and Northeast, Ontario (+0.3 percentage points to 3.8%). In the second quarter, the job vacancy rate was the highest in Northwest, Ontario (4.8%), North Coast and Nechako, British Columbia (4.8%), and Estrie, Quebec (4.5%). In contrast, the vacancy rate was the lowest in South Coast–Burin Peninsula and Notre Dame–Central Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador (1.9%), South Central and North Central, Manitoba (2.0%), and Windsor–Sarnia, Ontario (2.1%).

Chart 3

Economic regions with the highest and lowest job vacancy rates

Table 1 The 10 occupations with the largest annual decreases in job vacancies and their average offered hourly wage, second quarter of 2025

Table 2 The 10 occupations with the largest annual increases in job vacancies and their average offered hourly wage, second quarter of 2025

Note to readers

The Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS) provides comprehensive data on job vacancies and offered wages by industrial sector and detailed occupation for Canada and the provinces, territories and economic regions. Additional information is also available by occupation, such as the proportion of job vacancies for full-time and part-time positions, the duration of job vacancies, the levels of education and experience sought for the job, and other characteristics. Job vacancy, offered wage and vacancy characteristics data are released quarterly. Estimates by sector are based on the North American Industry Classification System 2022 Version 1.0. Estimates by geographical area are based on the Standard Geographical Classification 2021. Estimates by occupation reflect the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. The NOC is a five-tiered hierarchical structure of occupational groups with successive levels of disaggregation. The structure is as follows: (1) 10 broad occupational categories, also referred to as one-digit NOC; (2) 45 major groups, also referred to as two-digit NOC; (3) 89 sub-major groups, also referred to as three-digit NOC; (4) 162 minor groups, also referred to as four-digit NOC; and (5) 516 unit groups, also referred to as five-digit NOC. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection for the JVWS was suspended for the second and third quarters of 2020. Preliminary monthly estimates are produced for job vacancies and job vacancy rates by province and by industrial sector. These JVWS preliminary monthly estimates are released on a monthly basis with the estimates from the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours. More information about the concepts and use of data from the JVWS is available in the Guide to the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (Catalogue number75-514-G). The target population of the survey includes all business locations in Canada, excluding those involved primarily in religious organizations and private households. Federal, provincial and territorial, as well as international and other extraterritorial public administrations are also excluded from the survey. Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted estimates, which facilitate comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions. Seasonally adjusted quarterly job vacancy data are available online (tables 14-10-0398-01, 14-10-0399-01 and 14-10-0400-01). The analyses of the job vacancy levels and rates by sector (20 broad industrial sector groups), one-digit NOC (10 broad occupational categories), province and economic region are based on seasonally adjusted data. However, the analyses of the job vacancy levels and rates by subsector, two-digit NOC, three-digit NOC, four-digit NOC and five-digit NOC are based on non-seasonally adjusted data. The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio excludes the territories for consistency with the geographic coverage of the Labour Force Survey. This analysis focuses on differences between estimates that are statistically significant at the 68% confidence level. Data tables Tables 14-10-0325, 14-10-0326, 14-10-0328 and 14-10-0356 have now been archived. They have been replaced with tables 14-10-0441-01, 14-10-0442-01, 14-10-0443-01 and 14-10-0444-01, respectively, presenting the new classifications. Data tables are updated on September 16, 2025. Next releases Data on job vacancies from the JVWS for the third quarter of 2025 will be released on December 16. Preliminary monthly data on job vacancies from the JVWS for July 2025 will be released on September 25.

Products

More information about the concepts and use of data from the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey is available online in the Guide to the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (Catalogue number75-514-G). The product "Labour Market Indicators, by province, territory and economic region, unadjusted for seasonality" (Catalogue number71-607-X) is also available. This dynamic web application provides access to Statistics Canada's labour market indicators for Canada, by province, territory and economic region, and allows users to view a snapshot of key labour market indicators, observe geographical rankings for each indicator using an interactive map and table, and easily copy data into other programs.

Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily — https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250916/t001b-eng.htm

Table 1 The 10 occupations with the largest annual decreases in job vacancies and their average offered hourly wage, second quarter of 2025

The 10 occupations with the largest annual decreases in job vacancies and their average offered hourly wage, second quarter of 2025

| Second quarter of 2024 | Second quarter of 2025 | Second quarter of 2024 to second quarter of 2025 | Second quarter of 2024 to second quarter of 2025 | Second quarter of 2024 | Second quarter of 2025 |

| number of job vacancies | number of job vacancies | change in level | % | average offered hourly wage ($) | average offered hourly wage ($) |

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 27,730 | 19,545 | -8,185 | -29.5 | 34.80 | 36.65 |

Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers | 20,160 | 15,745 | -4,415 | -21.9 | 17.25 | 17.90 |

Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 18,040 | 14,130 | -3,910 | -21.7 | 23.50 | 25.20 |

Construction trades helpers and labourers | 14,465 | 10,630 | -3,835 | -26.5 | 22.85 | 23.70 |

Licensed practical nurses | 12,335 | 8,720 | -3,615 | -29.3 | 29.45 | 31.50 |

Social and community service workers | 12,210 | 9,265 | -2,945 | -24.1 | 23.85 | 24.75 |

Light duty cleaners | 11,215 | 8,435 | -2,780 | -24.8 | 19.00 | 20.25 |

Cooks | 15,825 | 13,090 | -2,735 | -17.3 | 18.60 | 19.30 |

Transport truck drivers | 15,350 | 12,615 | -2,735 | -17.8 | 27.10 | 27.35 |

Administrative officers | 6,010 | 3,980 | -2,030 | -33.8 | 25.35 | 27.15 |

Source(s):

Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (5217), table 14-10-0444-01.

Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily — https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250916/t002b-eng.htm

Table 2 The 10 occupations with the largest annual increases in job vacancies and their average offered hourly wage, second quarter of 2025

The 10 occupations with the largest annual increases in job vacancies and their average offered hourly wage, second quarter of 2025

| Second quarter of 2024 | Second quarter of 2025 | Second quarter of 2024 to second quarter of 2025 | Second quarter of 2024 to second quarter of 2025 | Second quarter of 2024 | Second quarter of 2025 |

| number of job vacancies | number of job vacancies | change in level | % | average offered hourly wage ($) | average offered hourly wage ($) |

Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers | 6,890 | 8,335 | 1,445 | 21.0 | 20.45 | 21.15 |

Financial advisors | 1,050 | 2,320 | 1,270 | 121.0 | 33.10 | 31.20 |

Construction managers | 1,665 | 2,210 | 545 | 32.7 | 43.90 | 44.50 |

Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport | 2,370 | 2,885 | 515 | 21.7 | 18.95 | 18.95 |

Software engineers and designers | 2,415 | 2,910 | 495 | 20.5 | 50.25 | 53.80 |

Human resources managers | 845 | 1,285 | 440 | 52.1 | 49.50 | 49.80 |

Specialized cleaners | 1,560 | 1,990 | 430 | 27.6 | 19.50 | 20.90 |

Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants | 1,095 | 1,465 | 370 | 33.8 | 27.65 | 28.20 |

Database analysts and data administrators | 490 | 800 | 310 | 63.3 | 42.15 | 38.55 |

Computer and information systems managers | 1,485 | 1,765 | 280 | 18.9 | 61.70 | 59.60 |

Source(s):

Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (5217), table 14-10-0444-01.

Source: Open Government Portal, proactively disclosed Question Period note (previous note on this issue) — https://search.open.canada.ca/qpnotes/record/esdc-edsc,EWD_JUN2025_012

Question Period Note: JOB VACANCY DATA FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025 Reference number: EWD_JUN2025_012 Date received: Jun 19, 2025 Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada Name of Minister: Hajdu, Patty (Hon.) Title of Minister: Minister of Jobs and Families Issue/Question: On June 17th, Statistics Canada released job vacancy data for the first quarter of 2025 from the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS). Suggested Response: • Our government is committed to protecting and supporting workers in this period of uncertainty and change in our labour market. • We will advance new opportunities, transform to a one-economy agenda, and invest to ensure Canadians have the skills they need to fill in-demand jobs. Background: • Data collected in the JVWS are critical for the analysis of labour market tightness, in conjunction with data from the Labour Force Survey. • The job vacancy rate refers to the share of jobs that are unfilled out of all available payroll jobs. It represents the number of job vacancies expressed as a percentage of labour demand; that is, the sum of all occupied and vacant jobs. • In addition to the number of job vacancies for which employers are recruiting externally, the JVWS collects information on vacancies by occupation, the minimum level of education and work experience required, the wage or salary offered, whether the vacant positions are full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary or seasonal, and the duration of recruitment efforts. • The JVWS questionnaire is distributed on a quarterly basis to about 100,000 business locations operating in Canada (out of a population of close to 1.2 million locations) that have at least two employees (excluding religious organizations, private households, international and extraterritorial public administrations, and government administrations). • Statistics Canada will release the job vacancy data from the JVWS for the second quarter of 2025 on September 16, 2025. Additional key facts By occupation (data NOT adjusted for seasonality): • Compared to the first quarter of 2024, job vacancies fell by 31,200 (-19.2%) among sales and service occupations. Within this broad occupational group, retail salespersons and visual merchandisers (-3,900 to 12,100), food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (-3,800 to 22,900), and other customer and information services representatives (-3,600 to 5,900) saw the largest year-over-year drops in vacancies. • Compared to the first quarter of 2024, the number of job vacancies among trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations declined by 27,000 (-23.7%), led by construction trades helpers and labourers (-4,400 to 8,500) and transport truck drivers (-3,700 to 11,800). • In the first quarter of 2025, job vacancies in health occupations also fell (-19.1% or -17,600) on a year-over-year basis. This decrease was led by key nursing occupations: registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (-7,700 to 21,000), nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (-4,900 to 16,100), and licensed practical nurses (-2,700 to 10,000). By minimum level of education sought (data NOT adjusted for seasonality): • On a year-over-year basis, there were fewer job vacancies for all four educational levels sought by employers in the first quarter of 2025. However, positions requiring a high school diploma or less drove the overall decrease in the total number of vacancies, declining by 66,800 (-22.3%), and accounting for 60% of the overall year-over-year decline in job vacancies. By province (data adjusted for seasonality): • Between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, job vacancies fell in Quebec (-9,500 to 120,400), British Columbia (-6,600 to 85,100), Alberta (-4,300 to 61,700), Manitoba (-1,200 to 19,800), New Brunswick (-700 to 8,900) and in the Northwest Territories (-300 to 800). • The number of vacancies was little changed in the remaining provinces and territories. Unemployed people per vacancy (data adjusted for seasonality): • In the first quarter of 2025, there were 2.9 unemployed people per job vacancy, an increase compared to 2.8 in the previous quarter and the record low of 1.1 in the second quarter of 2022. • Comparing unemployment and job vacancies can give an indication of how easily unemployed workers find jobs and if workforce skills are in line with those required by employers. A low unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio can indicate that it may be relatively harder for employers to find workers. Offered hourly wages (data NOT adjusted for seasonality): • Between the first quarters of 2024 and 2025, the average offered hourly wage grew 6.1% to $28.90, driven partially by a shift in the composition of job vacancies towards higher-offered-wage occupations. In comparison, year-over-year average hourly wages of all employees (as measured in the Labour Force Survey) grew 3.6% in the first quarter of 2025. • Holding the composition of job vacancies by occupation fixed at the average of the first quarter of 2024, the year-over-year growth in offered hourly wages would have been 4.7%. Additional Information: None