TORONTO, June 25, 2026 – Statistics Canada reported on June 25 that payroll employment across Canada increased by 22,000 in April compared with March. Job vacancies remained at approximately 490,500, while average weekly earnings rose 3.8 per cent year over year. Ontario’s job vacancy rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from a year earlier to 2.4 per cent. Graduates, newcomers and people planning to change jobs should note that although payroll employment increased slightly, hiring demand has shown little growth for several consecutive months, and employment trends continue to vary considerably by industry.
Statistics Canada data showed that payroll employment increased 0.1 per cent month over month in April, following little change in March. Compared with April 2025, payroll employment nationwide increased by 78,100, or 0.4 per cent.
Employment growth in April was led by health care and social assistance, which added 8,500 payroll positions. Public administration added 6,700, while administrative and support, waste management and remediation services added 3,900.
At the same time, professional, scientific and technical services lost 8,800 payroll positions, manufacturing declined by 3,400, and construction decreased by 2,600. The figures show that an overall increase in employment does not mean hiring conditions improved across every industry.
Canada had approximately 490,500 job vacancies in April, remaining largely unchanged for a fourth consecutive month. Compared with one year earlier, the number of vacancies declined by 17,500, or 3.4 per cent.
Ontario’s job vacancy rate fell to 2.4 per cent, meaning that approximately 2.4 out of every 100 positions were vacant. A lower vacancy rate can reflect changes in hiring demand, the total number of positions and how quickly employers fill openings. It does not necessarily mean employment opportunities have declined on its own, but it indicates that job seekers continue to face a cautious hiring environment.
Average weekly earnings nationwide rose to approximately $1,346 in April, increasing one per cent from March and 3.8 per cent from a year earlier. However, average weekly earnings can be affected by changes in industry composition, hours worked and the proportion of higher- and lower-paying jobs. The figure does not mean every employee received the same wage increase.
Statistics Canada’s payroll employment data covers employees who receive wages and benefits from employers. It does not include all self-employed workers and is therefore a different measure from the employment and unemployment figures reported in the monthly Labour Force Survey.
For Ontario job seekers, the April figures show that the labour market remains divided across industries. Payroll employment increased in health care, social services and public administration, while professional services, manufacturing and construction recorded declines. People assessing employment opportunities should consider regional, industry-specific and occupational data together.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
