Q2 2026 Update
Job vacancy rate unchanged at 2.8%
Small changes in vacancy rates across provinces
This translates into 393,000 vacant positions across Canada.
Job vacancy rates unchanged for five consecutive quarters
The private sector job vacancy rate in Canada remained virtually unchanged, at 2.8% in 2026 Q2. Vacancy rates showed little to no change quarter-over-quarter across most provinces and sectors. Year-over-year variations were minimal—under 0.8% for all provinces, sectors, and business sizes.
Small changes in vacancy rates across provinces
Prince Edward Island (-0.7) and Nova Scotia (-0.2) experienced the largest year-over-year decreases in vacancy rates. Saskatchewan (+0.2) and New Brunswick (+0.2) were the only provinces recording yearly increases.
Highest vacancy rates in other services and construction
On a yearly basis, health and education (-0.5) and wholesale businesses (-0.4) saw the biggest drops in their vacancy rates. Information, arts and recreation (+0.8), professional services (+0.2) and retail (+0.2) were the only sectors posting yearly increases in vacancy rates.
Smaller businesses record the biggest yearly declines
On a yearly basis, businesses with fewer than 20 employees have shown the biggest decreases in vacancy rates, while mid-size businesses with fewer than 100 employees were recording slight increases.