Canada had 510,200 job vacancies in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest Statistics Canada Job Vacancy and Wage Survey. The number of vacancies was little changed from the previous quarter, while the national job vacancy rate remained at 2.8%.

The data offers a current snapshot of Canadian labour demand and provides useful information for workers, employers and people researching Canada immigration pathways linked to employment.

Canada Job Vacancies Remain Steady

Statistics Canada reported 510,200 job vacancies in the second quarter of 2026.

That was little changed from the first quarter, when vacancies increased by 13,300, or 2.7%.

Part-time vacancies increased by 3,600, or 2.8%, while vacancies for full-time jobs were little changed.

There was also little change in vacancies for permanent and temporary positions overall.

Labour market measure	Q2 2026
Job vacancies	510,200
Job vacancy rate	2.8%
Unemployed people per vacancy	3.0
Long-term vacancy share	25.9%
Average offered hourly wage	$28.55

The figures are based on Statistics Canada’s Job Vacancy and Wage Survey.

Source: Job Vacancies, Second Quarter 2026

Labour Demand Increased in the Second Quarter

Total labour demand includes both filled positions and vacant positions.

Statistics Canada reported that total labour demand increased by 58,100, or 0.3%, during the second quarter.

The increase was mainly associated with payroll employment, which rose by 55,600, or 0.3%.

Compared with the second quarter of 2025, total labour demand was up by 181,100, or 1.0%.

This means the overall number of filled and vacant positions continued to increase even though the number of unfilled positions remained broadly stable.

Three Unemployed People for Every Job Vacancy

The unemployment-to-job-vacancy ratio remained at 3.0 unemployed people for every vacant position in the second quarter.

That was unchanged from the first quarter and slightly lower than the 3.1 ratio recorded in the second quarter of 2025.

The ratio provides additional context to the vacancy figure because the number of open jobs alone does not show how many job seekers are available in the labour market.

Long-Term Job Vacancies Fall

One of the notable changes was the decline in the share of vacancies that had been open for at least 90 days.

The proportion of long-term vacancies fell to 25.9% in the second quarter from 28.0% in the first quarter.

Statistics Canada said this was the lowest level since the second quarter of 2021.

The long-term vacancy share had reached 39.5% in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The decline indicates that the share of vacancies requiring recruitment efforts for extended periods has decreased. However, this statistic does not measure the ease or difficulty of filling any particular job.

Which Occupations Saw More Vacancies?

The labour market was not uniform across occupations.

Natural and applied sciences and related occupations recorded 42,300 vacancies, an increase of 1,800, or 4.5%, from the previous quarter.

This was the second consecutive quarterly increase for this broad occupational group.

On a year-over-year basis, vacancies in this group increased by 2,400, or 6.0%.

Some of the occupations with notable year-over-year increases included:

• Software developers and programmers: up 900 to 3,500
• User support technicians: up 500 to 2,400
• Construction estimators: up 400 to 1,200

These detailed occupation figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Trades and Transport Vacancies Remain Significant

Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations had 98,600 vacancies in the second quarter.

That was an increase of 1,500, or 1.5%, from the previous quarter.

Year over year, vacancies in this occupational group increased by 6,500, or 6.6%.

Some of the largest increases included:

• Material handlers: up 2,100 to 9,200
• Residential and commercial installers and servicers: up 1,200 to 2,900
• Transport truck drivers: up 1,200 to 13,800

The figures help illustrate why occupation-specific labour market data can be more informative than the national vacancy total for workers considering a particular career or immigration pathway.

Healthcare Vacancies Decline Year Over Year

Healthcare was among the broad occupational groups where vacancies declined on a year-over-year basis.

Statistics Canada reported 5,500 fewer vacancies in health occupations, a decline of 7.9%.

Education, law and social, community and government services recorded an even larger decline, with vacancies down 6,500, or 13.3%, year over year.

By contrast, trades, transport and equipment operators, sales and service, and manufacturing and utilities recorded year-over-year increases.

This shows that labour demand varies considerably between occupations.

Manufacturing and Utilities Vacancies Increase

Vacancies in occupations in manufacturing and utilities increased by 3,200, or 19.2%, year over year.

Sales and service occupations also recorded an increase of 4,000 vacancies, or 2.6%.

These changes occurred alongside increases in trades and transport vacancies.

For people researching Canada immigration, this data can provide labour-market context, but a vacancy in an occupation does not by itself create immigration eligibility.

Candidates still need to meet the specific requirements of the immigration program they are considering.

Job Vacancies by Education Level

The second-quarter data also showed differences by education requirements.

Vacancies for positions requiring a high school diploma or less increased by 7,000, or 2.4%, year over year.

Statistics Canada said this was the first year-over-year increase for this education level since the third quarter of 2022.

Vacancies requiring a trade certificate or diploma increased by 2,700, or 3.9%.

The unemployment-to-job-vacancy ratio for trade certificate or diploma positions was 1.7, the lowest among the education levels reported.

Meanwhile, vacancies requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher declined by 5,100, or 5.9%.

Offered Wages Continue to Grow More Slowly

The average offered hourly wage for vacant positions increased 2.0% year over year to $28.55 in the second quarter.

Statistics Canada noted that wage growth for vacant positions has slowed from its 7.6% peak in the third quarter of 2024.

For comparison, the average hourly wage for all employees increased 3.6% year over year during the second quarter.

The offered wage data refers to vacant positions and should not be interpreted as the average income earned by all workers in an occupation.

What Does the Job Vacancy Data Mean for Canada Immigration?

Employment conditions can be relevant to several Canadian immigration pathways, including Provincial Nominee Programs and category-based Express Entry selection.

However, national vacancy statistics do not determine whether an individual qualifies for immigration.

Immigration programs can have their own occupation lists, education requirements, language requirements, work experience rules, wage conditions and employer requirements.

Therefore, a worker should not assume that an occupation with a high number of vacancies automatically qualifies for a Provincial Nominee Program or Express Entry category.

The Statistics Canada data is best used as labour-market context alongside the specific eligibility requirements of the immigration pathway being considered.

Provincial and Regional Differences

Job vacancies were relatively stable across most provinces in the second quarter.

Newfoundland and Labrador recorded an increase of 700 vacancies, or 14.9%, compared with the previous quarter.

Year over year, vacancies increased in New Brunswick by 900, Newfoundland and Labrador by 600 and the Northwest Territories by 300.

At the economic-region level, Toronto recorded the largest quarterly increase, with 3,600 additional vacancies.

Other regions experienced declines, showing that labour demand can vary significantly even within the same province.

The latest Canada job vacancies data shows that 510,200 positions were vacant in the second quarter of 2026, with the national vacancy rate remaining at 2.8%.

The labour market continued to expand in terms of total labour demand, while the share of long-term vacancies fell to its lowest level since the second quarter of 2021.

Vacancies increased in areas such as natural and applied sciences, trades, transport, manufacturing and utilities, while several other occupational groups recorded declines.

For people considering Canada immigration, the figures provide useful labour-market context, but occupation shortages alone do not guarantee eligibility for an immigration program.

Frequently Asked Questions