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Updated 7 days ago
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Employment was nearly unchanged in February, with a marginal increase of just 1,100 jobs. The employment rate stayed at 61.1%, while the unemployment rate held steady at 6.6%. Total hours worked dropped by 1.3% in the month, but average hourly wages grew by 3.8% on a year-over-year basis.
In other words, not too much happened in Canada’s job market in February 2025. Employment remains relatively unchanged across most provinces and territories, except Nova Scotia which saw a decline in its employment rate.
In terms of sector growth and demographics, employment rose by 27,000 among 25-54 year-old women. Employment increased in wholesale and retail trade by 1.7%, while finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing also saw growth. Professional, scientific and technical services as well as transportation and warehousing saw decreases in employment in February.
Another interesting trend noted by Statistics Canada in February was a growing willingness to relocate to a different province for work among those who have been laid off. Around 3 in 10 people who are currently looking for work said they would be willing to move to a different province if they were offered a job.
Ontario, British Columbia, and New Brunswick stood out in January’s labour market performance, showcasing regional momentum.
Ontario led the charge by adding 39,000 jobs, reflecting a dynamic and resilient economy that continues to attract investment and talent.
British Columbia followed closely with an impressive boost of 23,000 new positions.
New Brunswick contributed nearly 3,000 jobs, demonstrating that growth is not limited to just the larger provinces. These gains suggest a nationwide recovery where opportunities are emerging across different regions, giving job seekers a range of locations to explore as they consider their next career move in Canada.
Despite the encouraging job growth, the labour market continues to face significant challenges that could impact certain groups.
For example, the average hourly wage grew by 3.5% year-over-year. This growth is happening at a much slower pace compared to previous months, raising concerns about wage stagnation and the overall quality of job opportunities.
The rise in self-employment and side hustles (up 27,000 in January and 94,000 positions year over year, which is a 3.6% increase) suggests that many workers are turning to alternative forms of income as traditional, full-time roles may not offer the stability they need. Addressing these issues is crucial to ensure that growth benefits all segments of the workforce and supports a more inclusive economic recovery.
Signs are still pointing towards the job market heating up in Canada in 2025 and employers in many sectors are still experiencing widespread labour shortages, but significant uncertainty in the economy may deflate investment in hiring.
In other words, change over the next 12 months may be slow and frustrating.
If you’re looking to land a role in Canada or to move into your dream role, it’s important that you put your best foot forward. Our resources can help.
Here are some new expert resources researched and published by the Moving2Canada team:
Of course, to be invited to interview you’ll need a strong, Canada-style resume, and usually an accompanying cover letter. We’ve helped tens of thousands improve their job search with the templates that come with a free Moving2Canada. If you haven’t created your account yet, now is the time to jump on board. Create your Moving2Canada account here.
Canada’s job market provides a wealth of opportunity for newcomers, but it is only that — an opportunity.
To take full advantage, recent and prospective immigrants can leverage free government-funded resources and programs. We recently partnered with Canada InfoNet, a government-funded pre-arrival employment support program, to bring you two expert guides on transitioning to a career in Canada:
Ruairi Spillaine, Outpost Recruitment and Moving2Canada founder, analyzes what’s happening in the construction sector in Canada.
“Procurement of building materials during a potential trade war is going to create pandemic-style escalations in a construction sector that is already struggling with a prolonged period of higher rates. The addition of tariffs isn’t good news for the construction sector in Canada or the US“ Moving2Canada and Outpost Recruitment Founder, Ruairi Spillane
“Procurement of building materials during a potential trade war is going to create pandemic-style escalations in a construction sector that is already struggling with a prolonged period of higher rates. The addition of tariffs isn’t good news for the construction sector in Canada or the US“
If you are interested in working in Canada’s construction sector, Outpost helps motivated candidates find suitable jobs in Canada.
The agency works with general contractors, subcontractors, developers, and consultants who are hiring across senior management, operations, project management, site, design, quality, and commercial personnel.
Outpost Recruitment is actively looking for candidates for projects across Canada. View the latest job postings here.
The Moving2Canada team has a special feature for people who want to get a job in Canada or accelerate their career here. Readers can now opt in to hear from recruiters and employers we partner with and upload a resume to their account, all for free.
We’re excited to help more newcomers and people wishing to move to Canada in their career goals.
If you’re looking for a job in Canada here are some steps you can take to land that sweet, sweet Canadian job offer.
Here’s a popular webinar from recruitment expert and Moving2Canada founder, Ruairi Spillane, about how to create the best resume for the Canadian jobs market:
We have worked hard over recent weeks to ramp up the number and range of job postings on our Jobs Board.
We also have a number of other resources for helping you find your career in Canada. You’ll find broad-stroke information that will arm you with the knowledge you need to succeed, as well as industry-specific insights into finding jobs by industry, such as teaching.
Don’t forget to complete or update your Moving2Canada profile to hear about job opportunities in your industry in Canada!
Want to dig deeper into the Canada Jobs Report data? Try these interactive tools, courtesy of StatsCan.
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