Canada’s Job Market Update: September 2025

Recent data shows a positive shift in Canada’s job market, with job vacancies increasing to 486,000 in September 2025, marking the first rise since early 2024. Despite this improvement, vacancies are still 9.3% lower than the previous year, indicating a softer hiring demand compared to 2024.

The job vacancy rate has reached 2.7%, while the unemployment-to-vacancy ratio has decreased to 3.3. This change reflects a slight enhancement in labor market conditions following a period of decline.

Sectors such as construction and manufacturing have seen significant growth in job openings, whereas health care continues to experience a decline in vacancies. Notably, only Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador have reported monthly gains at the provincial level.

Regarding immigration, the current data suggests a moderate need for widespread immigration expansion in the near future. However, specific sectors still exhibit demand, supporting targeted selection strategies like Express Entry draws and provincial nomination streams. Overall, the statistics indicate a trend towards stabilization rather than a robust recovery in labor demand.