Canada’s job vacancies dropped to 505,900 in the second quarter of 2025, down 3.6% from the previous quarter and marking the lowest level since 2018. The latest Statistics Canada report highlights a cooling labour market, with permanent positions falling by 5.1% and temporary roles by 4.5%.
Despite the overall decline, several occupations continue to face strong demand, creating opportunities for both job seekers and immigrants looking to secure permanent residency in Canada.
Top 10 Occupations With the Most Vacancies (Q2 2025)
- Registered nurses and psychiatric nurses – 19,545 vacancies
- Retail salespersons and merchandisers – 15,745 vacancies
- Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates – 14,130 vacancies
- Construction trades helpers and labourers – 10,630 vacancies
- Licensed practical nurses – 8,720 vacancies
- Social and community service workers – 9,265 vacancies
- Light duty cleaners – 8,435 vacancies
- Cooks – 13,090 vacancies
- Transport truck drivers – 12,615 vacancies
- Administrative officers – 3,980 vacancies
While vacancies in these roles have shrunk compared to last year, they remain among the most in-demand across Canada.
Fastest-Growing Occupations in 2025
Some jobs, though smaller in scale, are seeing rapid growth in vacancies:
- Financial advisors (+121%)
- Database analysts and administrators (+63.3%)
- Human resources managers (+52.1%)
- Construction managers (+32.7%)
- Dental assistants (+33.8%)
- Software engineers and designers (+20.5%)
Provinces With Stronger Job Markets
Unemployment in Canada reached 7.1% in August 2025, with Saskatchewan (4.7%) and Manitoba (5.7%) recording the lowest rates, while Newfoundland and Labrador (10.7%) faced the highest.
