Future of work

As economic disruptions and global shocks create uncertainty, investigating the current labour market is becoming more important as Canada looks ahead. Using multiple data sources, including Statistics Canada (Labour Force Survey and Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours) and Indeed (online job posting data), the Indeed Hiring Lab explored the state of the Canadian economy in recent times.  

Their research revealed a slowdown in both hiring and layoffs. It also showed that there are challenges for critical groups in the labour market, like recent graduates and those experiencing long-term joblessness. In addition, there are further conflicting signals coming from the market, showing that the broader picture is complex. For example, online job postings have not decreased dramatically since the announcements of tariffs, and wage growth has remained steady, if not mixed.   

The analyses show that there are sectoral and regional variations in job posting changes. For example, job postings in driving, manufacturing, and other trade-exposed occupations have seen decreases. However, the decreases weren’t consistent across the country. They were most significant in regions where these occupations are concentrated, like southwestern Ontario.  

This article is notable for its dexterous use of multiple data sources to paint a complete picture of the labour market. It shows the value of using both public and private sector data sources to develop a comprehensive understanding of the labour market.