Canada Labour Market Update 2026: 509,100 Job Vacancies Reported in June

Canada had 509,100 job vacancies in June 2026, up 10,500 from May, according to Statistics Canada’s latest Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours and Job Vacancy and Wage Survey release. Vacancies were also 13,800 higher than a year earlier, a 2.8% increase.

The national vacancy rate remained 2.8%, so the increase does not mean every industry suddenly became easier for job seekers. The more useful story is where vacancies are growing, where payroll employment is moving in the opposite direction, and how provincial labour markets differ.

June Labour Market Snapshot

Vacancies Rose While Payroll Employment Was Nearly Flat

Payroll employment was little changed in June, increasing by about 4,800 employees after a larger 45,000 increase in May. Compared with June 2025, payroll employment was up 155,000, or 0.8%.

That combination—vacancies rising while payroll employment barely moves—shows why one headline number should not be used to describe the entire labour market.

Manufacturing Vacancies Are Trending Up

Manufacturing stands out in the latest data. Job vacancies were up 17.3% year over year, an increase of 5,800 positions. Statistics Canada says manufacturing vacancies have trended upward from a recent low of 33,200 in July 2025 and were up by 6,400, or 19.2%, over that period.

At the same time, manufacturing payroll employment fell by 7,200 in June, the first monthly decline since December 2025.

This is a useful reminder that vacancies and employment can move differently. Employers may be trying to recruit in selected occupations even when total headcount in the sector is falling in the same month.

Subsectors with payroll weakness

June payroll declines were led by machinery manufacturing, fabricated metal manufacturing and primary metal manufacturing. On a year-over-year basis, however, machinery, petroleum and coal products, and computer and electronic product manufacturing all showed payroll gains.

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Had More Vacancies

Job vacancies in professional, scientific and technical services were up 3,200 from a year earlier, a 9.1% increase.

This broad sector includes many occupations in technology, engineering, consulting, scientific services and professional business functions. The vacancy increase does not mean every occupation inside the sector improved equally, but it supports continued attention to skilled technical hiring.

Mining, Oil and Gas Recorded the Fastest Percentage Increase

Vacancies in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction were up 1,500 year over year, a 42.3% increase. Its job vacancy rate also rose from 1.7% to 2.3% over the year.

The percentage increase is large partly because the sector’s absolute vacancy base is smaller than in sectors such as retail. Job seekers should compare both the rate of change and the actual number of positions available.

Retail Vacancies Increased Even as June Payrolls Fell

Retail trade vacancies were 3,900 higher than a year earlier, an 8.3% increase. Yet payroll employment fell by 3,900 in June after three consecutive monthly gains.

The June payroll decline was concentrated in areas such as grocery and convenience retailers and warehouse clubs/general merchandise retailers, while clothing and clothing accessories retailers added employees.

Two Sectors Had Fewer Vacancies Than a Year Ago

Statistics Canada reports year-over-year vacancy declines in:

• educational services: down 1,900, or 10.9%;
• information and cultural industries: down 1,100, or 13.2%.

That contrast matters for career planning. A national increase of 13,800 vacancies does not mean job openings increased in every field.

British Columbia Had the Highest Vacancy Rate

B.C.’s job vacancy rate was 3.2% in June, the highest among provinces. Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest rate at 2.0%, while New Brunswick was at 2.4%.

On a year-over-year basis, vacancy counts increased in Quebec, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, while Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador recorded declines.

New Brunswick Was the Only Province With a Monthly Vacancy Drop

New Brunswick recorded 1,500 fewer vacancies than in May, a monthly decline of 15.9%. Statistics Canada says it was the only province or territory to record a month-over-month decrease in June.

Monthly changes can be volatile, so applicants should avoid making relocation decisions based on one release alone.

There Were 2.9 Unemployed People for Every Vacancy

The unemployment-to-job-vacancy ratio improved slightly to 2.9 in June from 3.0 in May and 3.1 a year earlier.

This ratio gives a rough measure of labour supply relative to unfilled positions. A lower number can suggest tighter labour-market conditions, but the measure does not account for whether unemployed workers have the skills or location needed for available jobs.

Average Weekly Earnings Reached $1,343.86

Average weekly earnings were up 3.4% from a year earlier to $1,343.86. Month over month, earnings increased 0.6%.

Statistics Canada cautions that average earnings can change because of several factors, including wage increases, changes in hours, the mix of jobs and base-year effects. It should not be read as a guaranteed pay increase for individual workers.

Where Weekly Earnings Were Highest

Among provinces, Alberta’s average weekly earnings were $1,387.44 and Ontario’s were $1,383.94 in June. British Columbia was at $1,351.02. Territorial averages were higher, including $1,705.04 in the Northwest Territories and $1,883.29 in Nunavut, but cost structures and labour-market conditions also differ substantially in the North.

How Job Seekers Should Use Vacancy Data

Vacancy statistics are best used to identify direction, not individual openings. A sector with rising vacancies may deserve closer attention, but a job seeker should still check:

• occupation-level demand;
• province and city;
• required education and licensing;
• offered wage;
• experience requirements; and
• whether the employer is actively accepting applications.

For example, “manufacturing vacancies are up” is useful context, but it does not tell a machinist, engineer and production supervisor that they face the same hiring market. More vacancies also do not automatically mean easier hiring: employers may still require specific licences, experience or locations that do not match the available workforce.

Readers looking for actual openings rather than statistical trends can use Canadanship’s Jobs section. Work permits and employment-authorization topics are kept separately under Work.

Next Labour-Market Releases to Watch

Statistics Canada says second-quarter 2026 Job Vacancy and Wage Survey results will be released on September 15, 2026. Those data will provide more detail on vacancies by subsector, occupation and offered wages.

July 2026 payroll and monthly vacancy data are scheduled for September 24. Statistics Canada notes that the monthly figures are seasonally adjusted and preliminary vacancy estimates can be revised when quarterly information becomes available.

Why the September 15 Release Will Be More Useful for Occupation Decisions

The June monthly release is strongest for sector and provincial direction. The September 15 quarterly Job Vacancy and Wage Survey will add detail by occupation, subsector and offered wage.

That data can help job seekers move from a broad conclusion—such as manufacturing vacancies increasing—to a more useful question: which occupations are actually short of workers, where are those openings located, and what wages are employers offering?

Data Sources

Data released August 27 and verified August 30, 2026. Statistics Canada notes that preliminary monthly vacancy estimates can be revised when quarterly data are released.