April 4, 2025: Data, Analysis and Opinion from the Latest Statistics Canada Employment Release
Canada lost 33,000 jobs in March 2025—a 0.2% decrease—according to numbers released April 4 by Statistics Canada.1 The unemployment rate edged up by 0.1 percentage points to 6.7%, marking the first rise since November 2024.
Employment & Unemployment Overview
The national employment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 60.9%, as population growth outpaced job creation. This marked the first employment decline since January 2022 and followed three months of cumulative growth totaling 211,000 jobs. The drop was driven mainly by a loss of 62,000 full-time positions.
Demographic Shifts
Employment declined most among men aged 55 and older, who lost 21,000 jobs (-0.9%). Core-aged men (25 to 54) saw a small decrease of 16,000 jobs, while employment for youth held steady. However, the unemployment rate for young women rose to 13.1%, up 1.4 percentage points, as more entered the labour force.
Industry Breakdown
Job losses were concentrated in wholesale and retail trade (-29,000; -1.0%) and in information, culture and recreation (-20,000; -2.4%). Agriculture also saw a decline. Meanwhile, “other services” (e.g., personal and repair services) gained 12,000 jobs, and utilities added 4,200 jobs.
Regional Employment
Ontario recorded the largest job loss at 28,000, with its unemployment rate rising to 7.5%. Alberta followed with a 15,000-job decline and a 7.1% unemployment rate. Saskatchewan stood out with a gain of 6,600 jobs (+1.1%) and the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 4.9%. Quebec’s employment held steady, though its unemployment rate rose to 5.7%.
Labour Report Conclusions
March marked a pause in recent employment growth, with job losses centered in full-time and private sector roles. While some sectors and provinces posted gains, the overall employment rate declined amid ongoing population growth.
April 4, 2025: Featured Insight & Analysis on the Jobs Market
Tariffs Not Slowing Recruiting—Yet
While Goldbeck Recruiting President Henry Goldbeck acknowledges that tariffs may bring some challenges to the Canadian economy, he says the recruiting business remains strong for now.
“We’ve seen surprisingly few actual consequences so far,” he says. “Recent weeks have been among the busiest we’ve had in the past year in terms of new searches coming in.”2
If organizations are forced to make cuts, he expects other companies to seize the opportunity to recruit highly skilled talent that becomes available.
“High performers with specific industry and functional experience likely won’t be out of work for long,” he says.
Advice for Job Seekers: Seek Stability
What advice does Goldbeck have for candidates being recruited during uncertain times? Be open to opportunities, but do your homework.
“You should always be cautious about the stability of an organization you’re considering, but probably even more so now,” he says.
He urges candidates to ask potential employers thoughtful questions.
“They’ll be checking your references, so you can ask them about company finances or their strategy in response to tariffs,” he advises.
Increased Demand for Tradespeople with International Experience?
Goldbeck is optimistic that Canada can rise to the occasion and navigate the economic and political uncertainty it faces. If the country successfully diversifies its trade relationships, he believes this could lead to a greater demand for tradespeople with international experience.
“We haven’t seen it yet, but companies may start seeking tradespeople with experience in Europe, Asia, or South America,” he says.
Not Much Fat to Cut in the Canadian Labour Market?
If Canada experiences an economic downturn, Goldbeck says layoffs are inevitable—but perhaps not as widespread as one might expect.
“After going through the pandemic and a tight labour market, there may not be a lot of fat left to cut,” he says.
