Canada Job Vacancies Steady Q4 2025: 495,100 Openings Hold

146 Good news for international students and newcomers looking for work in Canada! The job market is showing signs of stability. After three straight quarters of job losses, vacancies held steady in late 2025. This means the downward trend might be slowing down. While there are still fewer jobs than last year, the pace of decline is getting smaller. This is encouraging for anyone planning to work in Canada or already here looking for opportunities. Let's break down what these numbers mean for you and your job search in Canada.

📊 What These Job Numbers Really Mean

Here's what happened in simple terms. Canada had 495,100 job openings in the last three months of 2025. That's about the same as the previous quarter. For the whole year, there were 48,100 fewer job openings compared to 2024. But here's the good part — the rate of decline is slowing down. Think of it like this: if job losses were falling fast before, now they're falling much more slowly. The job vacancy rate stayed at 2.8% for the third quarter in a row. This rate tells you how many jobs are open compared to all jobs (filled and empty). A steady rate means the market is stabilizing. Full-time jobs actually increased by 5,100 positions. Part-time jobs decreased by 4,300. If you're looking for full-time work, this is positive news.

🎯 Which Jobs Are Available Right Now

Some job sectors are doing better than others. Here are the areas where you'll find more opportunities: **Growing sectors include:** - Trades, transport and equipment operators (+3,800 jobs, +4.3%) - Business, finance and administration (+3,300 jobs, +5.0%) - Manufacturing and utilities (+1,100 jobs, +6.3%) **Declining sectors include:** - Sales and service jobs (-4,100 jobs, -2.8%) - Senior management positions (-200 jobs, -27.8%) If you have skills in trades, finance, or manufacturing, you have better chances right now. For example, if you're an electrician, mechanic, or accountant, employers are actively looking for people like you. Sales and service jobs are still available — there were 144,500 openings in Q4 2025. But competition is higher because there are fewer new openings.

💰 How Much Jobs Are Paying

Here's great news for your wallet. The average offered hourly wage went up to $29.25. That's $0.95 more per hour than the same time last year. This 3.4% increase is close to the overall wage growth of 3.5% for all Canadian workers. This means employers are competing for workers by offering better pay. For context, if you work full-time at $29.25 per hour, you earn about $60,840 per year before taxes. This varies by province and job type, but it gives you a baseline. Higher-skilled positions requiring experience or education typically pay more than this average. Entry-level positions may pay less, but you can work your way up.

🎓 Education Requirements Are Getting Higher

Here's an important trend for international students and skilled workers. Employers want more experienced and educated workers now. A record 12.9% of job openings now require five or more years of experience. Compare this to just 8.1% in 2022. Employers are being pickier about who they hire. About 16.9% of jobs now require a bachelor's degree or higher. This is close to the record high of 17.7% earlier in 2025. **What this means for you:** - If you have a degree and work experience, you're in a strong position - If you're a recent graduate, consider gaining Canadian work experience through co-op, internships, or entry-level positions - Trade certificates are also in demand — 13.3% of jobs require trade certification

🇨🇦 Best Provinces for Job Hunting

Not all provinces are the same for job opportunities. Here's where the action is: **Quebec** added the most new job openings (+5,300 jobs) in Q4 2025. The Capitale-Nationale region (Quebec City area) alone added 1,700 jobs — a 16.1% increase. **Saskatchewan** also added jobs (+1,200), especially around Saskatoon-Biggar (+700 jobs, +13.5% increase). Other provinces stayed about the same, which isn't bad news. It means they're stable. If you're flexible about where to live in Canada, Quebec and Saskatchewan might offer better opportunities right now. Both provinces also have Provincial Nominee Programs that could help with your permanent residence application.

🏥 Healthcare Jobs Still Challenging

Healthcare continues to be a difficult sector, even though Canada desperately needs healthcare workers. Job vacancies in health occupations dropped by 13,100 positions (-16.4%) compared to 2024. The biggest drops were for: - Registered nurses (-5,500 positions, -23.6%) - Nurse aides and patient service associates (-2,700 positions, -15.1%) - Licensed practical nurses (-2,600 positions, -24.3%) This seems contradictory because we know Canada needs healthcare workers. The decline might be due to: - Budget constraints in provincial health systems - Positions being filled from previous recruitment drives - Seasonal variations in healthcare hiring If you're a trained healthcare professional, don't be discouraged. Canada still needs you. Consider looking at different provinces or rural areas where demand might be higher.

🔧 Trades Workers in High Demand

Great news if you work in trades! This sector added 3,800 job openings in Q4 2025 — the first increase since 2022. Even though there are still fewer trade jobs than last year (-7,000), the trend is turning positive. This could mean the construction and infrastructure sectors are recovering. Popular trades with opportunities include: - General construction workers and laborers - Truck drivers and delivery workers - Equipment operators - Skilled trades like electricians and mechanics (though some specific areas saw declines) If you have trade certification from your home country, look into getting it recognized in Canada. Each province has different requirements, but the demand is there.

💼 Business and Finance Jobs Growing

The business, finance, and administration sector added 3,300 new job openings (+5.0%) in Q4 2025. This is excellent news for international students with business degrees or finance experience. This sector typically includes: - Administrative assistants and coordinators - Accounting and bookkeeping clerks - Financial analysts and advisors - Human resources professionals - Marketing and sales coordinators These jobs often require good English skills and understanding of Canadian business practices. If you studied business in Canada or have relevant work experience, you're well-positioned for these opportunities. Many of these positions also sponsor work permits or support permanent residence applications through programs like the Canadian Experience Class.

📉 Competition Is Still High

While job vacancies stabilized, there are still more people looking for work than jobs available. The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio is 3.1 people per job opening. This means for every job posted, about 3 people are competing for it. This is better than the 3.2 ratio from the previous quarter, but still higher than before the pandemic. **Competition varies by education level:** - High school diploma or less: 2.6 unemployed people per job - Trade certificate: 2.0 unemployed people per job - Higher education: varies, but generally lower competition The key takeaway? You need to stand out in your job applications. Tailor your resume to each job. Highlight Canadian education, work experience, and language skills.

⏰ Employers Are Filling Jobs Faster

Here's encouraging news. The proportion of long-term job vacancies dropped to 28.5% in Q4 2025, down from 32.6% a year earlier. Long-term vacancies are jobs that employers have been trying to fill for 90+ days. Fewer long-term vacancies means: - Employers are finding suitable candidates faster - The job market is working more efficiently - You might hear back from employers more quickly This suggests that while there are fewer total jobs, the matching process between employers and workers is improving. If you're qualified for a position, you have a better chance of getting hired relatively quickly.

🎯 Regional Opportunities You Should Know

Beyond Quebec and Saskatchewan adding jobs, several smaller regions showed strong growth that might interest you: **Quebec regions with strong growth:** - Chaudière-Appalaches: +20.2% increase in job vacancies - Mauricie: +16.2% increase - Capitale-Nationale (Quebec City): +16.1% increase **Other notable regions:** - Yorkton-Melville, Saskatchewan: +20.2% increase - Saskatoon-Biggar, Saskatchewan: +13.5% increase These smaller cities and regions often offer: - Lower cost of living than Toronto or Vancouver - Less competition for jobs - Stronger sense of community - Better work-life balance - Provincial nomination opportunities If you're open to living outside major cities, these areas could offer excellent opportunities for career growth and permanent residence.

🚀 What International Students Should Do

As an international student, these job market trends affect your post-graduation work permit (PGWP) period. Here's how to position yourself: **Focus on in-demand sectors:** Business, finance, trades, and manufacturing are adding jobs. If your field of study aligns with these, you're in good shape. **Gain Canadian work experience:** With employers wanting more experience, every Canadian job matters. Take co-op placements, part-time jobs, and internships seriously. **Consider smaller cities:** The job growth is happening outside major cities. Quebec regions and Saskatchewan might offer better opportunities than Toronto or Vancouver. **Improve your language skills:** With higher competition, excellent English (and French in Quebec) gives you an advantage. **Network actively:** With 3.1 people competing for each job, networking can help you stand out. Join professional associations and attend industry events.

📝 Job Search Strategy for 2026

Based on these employment trends, here's your action plan for finding work in Canada: **1. Target the right sectors:** Apply to jobs in business/finance, trades, and manufacturing first. These sectors are actively hiring. **2. Expand your geographic search:** Don't limit yourself to Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal. Smaller Quebec cities and Saskatchewan towns need workers. **3. Emphasize your experience:** With employers wanting 5+ years of experience, highlight every relevant job, internship, or project. Canadian experience counts extra. **4. Improve your credentials:** Consider additional certifications or training that make you stand out. Trade certificates and professional designations are valuable. **5. Be patient but persistent:** With 3.1 people per job opening, expect the process to take time. But remember that employers are filling positions faster than before. **6. Network strategically:** Join professional associations, attend job fairs, and connect with other newcomers who found work in your field.

🔮 What to Expect in 2026

The stabilization of job vacancies in Q4 2025 suggests that 2026 might bring better employment opportunities. Here are some trends to watch: **Potential positive developments:** - If the stabilization continues, new job creation might resume - Higher wages could attract more people to work, creating additional opportunities - Economic regions showing growth might expand their hiring **Things to watch carefully:** - Whether full-time job growth continues (it increased 5,100 in Q4) - If the unemployment rate keeps falling (it dropped from 7.0% to 6.8%) - Regional economic development outside major cities **For immigration purposes:** This job market data could influence immigration policies. Stable employment numbers support continued immigration levels, which is good news for permanent residence applications.

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