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January saw a considerable increase in overall employment, as (+5% of total employment) across Canada were filled in the first month of 2023.
The strong surge in hiring yielded big increases in employment for many groups (primarily workers aged 25-54), with Non-permanent Residents (NPRs)鈥攖hose holding either a Study or Work Permit)鈥攕eeing significant increases in labour force engagement.
The national unemployment rate held at a historically low 5%; little changed from December 2022. Immigrants in Canada held an average unemployment rate of , reflecting the wealth of job opportunities in Canada.
In January, NPRs filled 79,000 positions. As of November 2023, international students in Canada who hold a valid study permit can now work an unlimited number of hours during school semesters, until December 31st, 2023鈥攍ikely a contributor to this increase. In conjunction with NPRs now making up the biggest proportion of Canada鈥檚 population ever (per the latest ), they now have record participation in the labour force as well.
What industries were NPRs hired in?
The increases in NPR employment were reflected in multiple areas. The industries that saw the greatest increases were:
- (+10,349 people hired);
- (+9,717 people hired);
- (+8,848 people hired); and
- (+7742 people hired).
Overall, this group now makes up 3.4% of total employment, underlying their importance to the Canadian labour market. (the latest report at the time of writing) showed a gradual decrease in overall vacancies, however three of the above industries (excluding retail trade) continue to have an elevated number of open positions, and a persistent need for workers.
What industries saw strong hiring gains in January, and are there still jobs in these industries?
The first month of 2023 saw strong hiring gains in the:
- and (59,000 jobs filled, hiring for 128,960 vacancies collectively);
- (40,000 jobs filled, hiring for 131,775 vacancies);
- (18,000 jobs filled, hiring for 20,180 vacancies);
- (16,000 jobs filled, hiring for 79,025 vacancies); and
- (16,000 jobs filled, hiring for 34,985 vacancies).
Additionally, employment decreased by in the transportation and warehousing industry, currently hiring for 46,635 vacancies. Workers in Canada now hold a national average wage of $33.01 CAD/hour鈥攈owever average purchasing power has taken a hit in Canada, as wage growth remains slower than increasing inflationary pressures seen with the Bank of Canada raising interest rates at the start of February.
Note that all vacancy figures are taken from the November 2022 job vacancy report and adjusted for seasonality.
Many of the above industries report pressing and continuous job vacancies. For example, construction was one of the few industries that saw an in November. Meanwhile a lack of continues to be a concern for Canada, as the country seeks to fill the persistent labour shortages that have plagued this industry since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The gravity of this situation is reflected in policy changes the government has made. Immigration accounts for nearly 100% of growth in the Canadian labour force; and as such Canada has made it easier for temporary foreign health care workers to immigrate and work in Canada鈥攅xtending these measures to workers in caregiver pilot programs as well. In parallel Canada has extended immigration options for , in a bid to maximize its workforce at home.
Which provinces saw the greatest increases in hiring?
In January, the provinces that experienced the greatest increases in hiring included:
- Ontario (+63,000 positions filled);
- Quebec (+47,000 positions filled);
- Alberta (+21,000 positions filled);
- Nova Scotia (+9,400 positions filled); and
- Saskatchewan (4,500 positions filled).
In contrast Newfoundland and Labrador saw an increase in job vacancies as employment decreased by 2,300 positions. Provinces address their specific labour shortages through the (PNPs)鈥攚hich today are the of economic immigration to Canada.
As the year progresses, job vacancies, specific in-demand occupations, and hiring in each province will help determine the specifics of their PNPs. In fact, Express Entry based programs are also moving towards targeted draws, with in-demand professions being one of the key considerations towards receiving a targeted (ITA) under this policy.
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