Canada recorded 528,000 job vacancies in February 2025, down 20% from a year earlier. The job vacancy rate was 2.9%, with 2.8 unemployed people per open position—up from 2.0 last year, reflecting a more competitive job market.
Top Sectors
- Health care: 19.9% of all vacancies (despite a 19% annual drop)
- Hospitality: 11.6% (down 23.3%)
- Retail: 10.1%
Health care remains the only sector with more openings than before the pandemic.
Trends by Sector and Province
- Finance and insurance saw the biggest increase (+7,500 jobs).
- Construction had the steepest decline (–18,500 jobs, –31.6%).
- Ontario and Manitoba reported vacancy increases.
- Quebec saw the largest drop (–11,400 jobs).
Manitoba and B.C. had the highest vacancy rates; Newfoundland and Quebec the lowest.
Based on this data, immigrants can make more informed decisions about where to live and work in Canada. However, labour market needs are constantly evolving, and other factors—such as provincial immigration programs, job opportunities aligned with one’s field of study, access to permanent residency, and family considerations—should also be taken into account.
