Maple News reports that Canada experienced its highest recorded job vacancy rate in the second quarter (Q2) of 2021, signaling intensified labour shortages across multiple sectors. According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, the national job vacancy rate rose to 4.6%—the highest rate since this metric was first tracked in 2015. This surge resulted from a combination of rising job openings and declining payroll employment between April and June.
A total of 731,900 positions remained unfilled during Q2 2021, marking an increase of nearly 26% compared to the same period in 2019. Notably, because job vacancy data was not collected between March and September 2020 due to the pandemic, 2019 serves as the earliest available reference point.
Wage growth accompanied the hiring gaps, with the average hourly wage climbing to $22.85—up $1.55 from 2019. The increases varied regionally, with notable gains in Prince Edward Island and British Columbia, the latter now offering the highest average hourly wage in the country. Only Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta saw no wage growth.
Regionally, job vacancies rose in every province compared to 2019, with Quebec and Ontario experiencing the most significant increases in raw job numbers. British Columbia and Quebec had the highest vacancy rates overall, highlighting the strain in regional labour markets.
The healthcare and social assistance sector emerged as the most affected, accounting for one in seven job vacancies. Positions at hospitals and long-term care facilities were especially hard to fill, with nursing roles seeing the biggest increase in openings. The average hourly wage for nurses and psychiatric nurses rose to $32.50—up nearly 6%—but that hasn’t stemmed the tide of resignations. Many healthcare professionals cite pandemic-related burnout and worsening working conditions.
Construction and retail sectors also posted record highs. The construction industry reported 62,600 open positions, especially among trade helpers, carpenters, and electricians. Meanwhile, retail vacancy numbers reached 84,300, driven by gaps in food and beverage outlets and home supply stores. Frontline roles like shelf stockers and retail salespersons saw some of the steepest increases in demand.
Labour shortages in Canada are not new, but the pandemic has intensified the issue. Decreased immigration numbers in 2020 compounded the gap, with labour market recovery now depending heavily on attracting skilled foreign workers. Economists also point to persistent structural challenges in hard-hit industries and suggest some government support programs may be slowing the return to work for certain demographics.
As Canadian employers struggle to fill crucial roles amidst these challenges, immigration remains a key policy tool. Analysts anticipate these labour trends will influence Canada’s ongoing efforts to expand its workforce through targeted immigration pathways.