Canada’s unemployment rate falls to new record low of 5.2%

Never in recorded history has Canada boasted an unemployment rate of less than five percent, but it’s getting mighty close right now.

The latest official statistics, released in StatsCan’s Labour Force Survey, reveal an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent in Canada’s job market after the addition of  an estimated 15,300 net new jobs in April.

These April job gains followed much larger gains through February and March, totalling 409,000 new jobs.

A shrinking labour pool and overheating job market is generally good for workers, as there is a healthy supply of work and a labour shortage. This gives workers more leverage as they seek gainful employment.

Newcomers to Canada, who have enjoyed historically low unemployment over recent months, generally fall into the “core age” category of workers aged 25 to 54.  The unemployment rate for these workers is now just 4.3 percent, the lowest recorded rate since comparable data became available in 1976.

Employment is generally holding steady across services- and goods-producing sectors. Employment in professional, scientific and technical services increased faster than in the economy as a whole last month, as did employment in public administration. Retail and construction were down slightly after months of consecutive growth.

The latest report shines a spotlight on some aspects of Canada’s job market. For example, 24.5% percent of workers now earn at least $40 per hour, up from 18% in 2019.

Also, the working-from-home cohort is shrinking in Canada’s job market as more workers return to offices and other job sites. In April, 19% of workers usually worked exclusively from home, down from 24.3% in January.

People considering a move to Canada can consult this guide to identify an appropriate immigration pathway.

Expert resources to help immigrants get jobs in Canada

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:

• Transitioning to the Canadian job market
• How to find a career mentor in Canada

The outlook on Canadian construction and infrastructure

Construction has accounted for around 1 in 4 new jobs in Canada over the past six months, with newcomers taking advantage of a job market that favours workers.

“The pandemic has allowed ambitious professionals to take stock and re-assess their careers. It’s exciting to see candidates pursue radical changes that they didn’t previously have the courage to seek, and the level of opportunity has rarely been so strong across the construction sector.

Governments at the federal and provincial levels are doubling-down on infrastructure spending as a new era of big government comes into view, at least as far as construction is concerned. This presents big opportunities for immigrants to Canada as employers look far and wide for talent and experience.“

Moving2Canada and Outpost Recruitment Founder, Ruairi Spillane

Throughout the pandemic, Outpost has remained nimble and candidate-focused, able to find suitable roles for motivated candidates. 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.

How to take advantage in Canada’s job market

The Moving2Canada team has added a new 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.

• If you already have a Moving2Canada account, sign in here and complete or update your profile to hear about job opportunities.
• If you don’t already have a Moving2Canada account, please register here and complete your profile.

We’re excited to help more newcomers and people wishing to move to Canada in their career goals.

How to get a job in Canada

We at Moving2Canada have been flooded with inquiries from people who recently moved to Canada, or who have been laid off, or whose plans to move to Canada in the near future have been affected by the pandemic.

Despite the public health crisis and economic downturn, and the anxiety and confusion that may result, now is a good time to make sure you are well positioned to take advantage when Canada’s economy recovers.

• Get your resume in good shape. This crucial step is often left down the list of job seekers’ priorities, despite being arguably the most important step of all. Read our Canadian resume guide to get going.
• Start looking at open opportunities. Some companies are still hiring. Don’t believe us? Head over to our Jobs Board, populated daily with new positions across Canada.
• Build your network. You can assemble a team to help you in your job search. With ongoing physical distancing and travel restrictions, technology is your friend here. Read our networking guide, written by award-winning entrepreneur Ruairi Spillane, for expert advice.

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:

New and improved Jobs Board

We have worked hard over recent weeks to ramp up the number and range of job postings on our Jobs Board.

Apply for jobs in Canada

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.