Maple News reports that immigrant employment in Canada continued its rebound in September, riding the wave of the country’s broader economic recovery. According to the latest data from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey, employment across the country rose by 2.1% during the week of September 13 to 19—outpacing August’s 1.4% increase. This trend brings Canada’s overall employment within 3.7% of pre-pandemic levels, narrowing the gap by approximately 720,000 jobs.
Sectors such as accommodation, food services, and retail trade continue to lag in the recovery process, but other industries—particularly those where immigrants are traditionally employed—have contributed to stronger overall job numbers. These include health care, social assistance, public administration, and finance-related services, which have proven more resilient in the face of COVID-19 disruptions.
The employment rate of immigrants in Canada is nearing pre-COVID benchmarks. Immigrants who arrived in the country over five years ago saw employment rise by 1.7 percentage points in September, reaching 57.8%. In contrast, very recent immigrants—those who arrived within the past five years—held steady at a 63.6% employment rate. This limited change is partly due to the sharp decline in new arrivals caused by travel restrictions during the pandemic.
Canadian-born workers also experienced gains, though more modest in comparison. Their employment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points to 60% in September, highlighting a slightly slower recovery in contrast to immigrants with established roots in the country.
Much of the disparity in employment gains between recent and long-term immigrants can be traced back to industry representation. Statistics Canada notes that those who have been in the country longer are more likely to work in stable sectors less impacted by recent layoffs.
Recent immigrants, however, were hit hard earlier in the pandemic. A separate Statistics Canada analysis found they were disproportionately affected by job losses in March and April due to their concentration in lower-wage roles and their status as newer employees—making them more vulnerable during times of economic upheaval.
On a broader scale, the national economic picture continues to improve. When adjusted to align with U.S. labor market definitions, Canada’s unemployment rate in September stood at 7.9%—the same as the U.S. Still, this figure remains 3.3 percentage points above Canada’s pre-pandemic unemployment rate, signaling that the nation has more ground to cover in its return to economic normalcy.
Overall, immigrants are playing a significant role in Canada’s post-COVID recovery. As restrictions ease and economic activity increases, their employment trajectory will be a key indicator to watch in assessing the health of the nation’s labor market.