Canada Jobs: Workers landed more jobs in March as employment figures rose for the second consecutive month and the number of vacant positions dropped, the latest Statistics Canada data reveals.
The latest Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours shows the number of employees receiving pay and benefits from their employer rose by 51,400, or 0.3 per cent, in March following an increase of 14,600, or 0.1 per cent, in February.
“On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment was up by 232,100, up 1.3 per cent, in March,” notes the statistical and demographic services agency.
In the third month of this year, workers landed more jobs in 11 out of 20 sectors, led by healthcare and social assistance which added 11,700 jobs, up half a percentage point.
“Monthly gains in March 2024 in the sector were led by general medical and surgical hospitals, up 3,300; jobs or 0.5 per cent, nursing care facilities, up 1,700 or 0.7 per cent, individual and family services up 1,500 or 0.8 per cent and home healthcare services, up by 1,200 or 1.4 per cent,” notes Statistics Canada.
The educational services sector added 8,100 jobs, up 0.6 per cent.“From March 2023 to March 2024, payroll employment in the sector rose by 31,600, up 2.2 per cent, and this gain was concentrated in elementary and secondary schools, up 14,900 or 1.8 per cent, community colleges and CEGEPs, up 10,900 or 8.3 per cent, and universities, up 3,000 or 0.9 per cent,” reports Statistics Canada.
“Taken together, these three groups accounted for 91.6 per cent of payroll employment in educational services in March 2024.”
In March, there were also 7,300 more manufacturing jobs, up half a percentage point. And construction added 2,600, up 0.2 per cent, while there were another 2,600 wholesale trade jobs, up 0.3 per cent.
The only sector to shed jobs was retail trade which laid off 2,400 people in March, down 0.1 per cent.
Average weekly earnings were little changed at $1,236 in March.
“On a year-over-year basis, average weekly earnings were up 4.2 per cent in March, following a 4.3 per cent increase in February,” reports Statistics Canada.
Across the country, the big economic engines of Canada saw job losses in March while the country’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island, added more jobs.
“In March, decreases in job vacancies were recorded in Ontario, down 14,700 or 6.3 per cent, Quebec, down 12,500 or 8.4 per cent, British Columbia, down 9,300 or 8.7 per cent, and Newfoundland and Labrador, down 1,000 or 16.8 per cent,” notes Statistics Canada.
“Meanwhile, job vacancies increased in Prince Edward Island, up 600 or 28.3 per cent. Vacancies were little changed in the remaining five provinces.”
As employers added to their workforces in March, the number of jobs going begging for a lack of workers dropped to its lowest level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Job Vacancy Rate At Lowest Level Since March 2020
“In March 2024, job vacancies in Canada decreased by 40,600, down 6.2 per cent, to 610,700, marking the largest month-over-month decline since September 2023,” notes Statistics Canada.
“Job vacancies had previously followed a steady downward trend from May 2022 to September 2023. Compared with March 2023, total job vacancies were down by 192,800, down 24 per cent, in March 2024.”
Foreign nationals can gain their permanent residency in Canada by immigrating through the country’s many economic immigration programs.
PNPs Offer Route To Economic Immigration For Skilled Workers
Candidates’ profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates will be considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90-days.
Through a network of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can also nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada when they have the specific skills required by local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.
The Global Talent Stream (GTS), a part of the TFWP, can under normal processing situations lead to the granting of Canadian work permits and the processing of visa applications within two weeks.
