Canadian Payroll Employment Falls in November

On Thursday, Statistics Canada (StatCan) reported that payroll employment fell 0.1% in November 2025, a decline of 26,200 positions, following a 0.1% increase (+11,900) in October. Year-over-year, payroll employment was up 0.3%, an increase of 48,300.

Payroll employment declined in several sectors. Retail trade fell 0.2%, shedding 4,700 jobs, while manufacturing employment dropped 0.3% (-4,200). Accommodation and food services declined 0.3% (-3,600), and arts, entertainment, and recreation fell 0.8% (-2,700).

These losses were partly offset by gains in health care and social assistance, which rose 0.1%, adding 2,000 jobs.

StatCan also reported that job vacancies totaled 472,100 in November, little changed from October, when vacancies fell 3.9% (-18,800). Year-over-year, vacancies were down 12.5%, a decline of 67,200 positions.

There were 3.2 unemployed persons for every job vacancy in November, down from 3.3 in October. Year-over-year, the ratio was up by 0.2, reflecting job vacancies declining faster—down 12.5%, or 67,300 positions (excluding the territories)—than the number of unemployed persons, which fell 4.9%, or 75,800.