Economic Journal
Canada’s labour market has moved through another month of steady but uneven activity. While the national data still points to a cautious economic environment, the flow of local announcements shows a job market that continues to generate real hiring across industries. Construction, manufacturing, health care, retail, hospitality and community services all posted new openings or expansions, creating thousands of jobs nationally. These estimates give a concrete picture of how much labour demand is forming and where staffing firms may see the strongest traction.
Construction remains the top engine of job creation
Construction generated the largest share of estimated new jobs, supported by housing builds, major public infrastructure and commercial developments. Across the announcements, the combined construction related demand for workers is in the range of 20,000 to 22,000 positions, heavily influenced by multi billion dollar energy and public works projects.
In Ontario alone, residential and mixed use developments in Hamilton, Hanover, London, Burlington and the Ring of Fire corridor likely represent 800 to 1,000 positions across trades, equipment operation, site supervision and engineering. The Vianode synthetic graphite facility underway in St. Thomas adds another 300 jobs when operational.
Projects in the North including the Dehk’e Frank Channel Bridge, the Igluvut housing program and Nunavut industrial subdivision improvements represent 400 to 600 construction roles through to 2028.
British Columbia recorded major activity as well. The Tilbury LNG expansion and Broadway Subway surface works together contribute an estimated 1,100 to 1,400 jobs, ranging from crane operators and electricians to concrete finishers and project managers.
Nova Scotia, Alberta and Manitoba each posted additional activity, bringing the total construction labour needs to a level unmatched by any other sector this month.
Manufacturing shows renewed strength
Manufacturing posted large gains, driven by advanced production facilities, expansions in food processing and industrial equipment. The clearest numbers come from Ontario and Quebec. Scale Foods opened operations in Vaughan with more than 150 employees and will scale above 200. NextStar Energy’s battery facility in Windsor, which has committed to 2,500 employees, represents the single largest manufacturing hire of the month.
Sherbrooke’s cluster of industrial expansions supported by federal investment will add roughly 75 to 100 jobs, while Groupe LAR in Saguenay–Lac Saint Jean plans to hire 200. New sites in London, North Vancouver and Bow Island combined add an estimated 150 to 200 positions.
In total, the manufacturing announcements represent roughly 3,100 to 3,300 workers.
Healthcare and social assistance expands capacity
The health sector continues to hire steadily across the country to meet rising population needs. Manitoba alone added new ICU, transitional care and medicine beds, driving an estimated 350 to 400 roles, including nurses, respiratory therapists, aides and administrative support workers.
Childcare expansions in Baden create roughly 25 to 35 positions, while new clinics in Halifax, Cambridge and Vancouver Island add an estimated 40 to 50 positions in combination. Recruitment campaigns in the Côte Nord region signal hiring for 400 positions, although these will fill gradually.
Altogether, health and social services announcements this month represent roughly 900 to 1,000 workers.
Retail and hospitality continue to build local demand
Restaurant openings remain one of the most visible sources of hiring across Canadian cities. From Toronto and Calgary to Richmond, Sudbury and Manitoba, the combined additions from new eateries, quick service chains and food counters represent an estimated 900 to 1,200 positions.
Retail openings were similarly active. New stores from IGA, Food Basics, JD Sports, MINISO, No Frills, Uniqlo, Zellers, Dunrobin Plaza tenants and multiple boutique outlets likely support 1,200 to 1,400 jobs across sales, stocking, customer service and management.
Altogether, retail and hospitality announcements total roughly 2,100 to 2,600 positions.
Transportation, logistics and warehousing prepare for more services
Transit agencies and logistics operators continued to add targeted capacity. Winnipeg Transit’s proposed staffing increase represents roughly 33 positions, while new courier and logistics centre openings in North Bay and UPS construction activity in Barrie suggest 60 to 100 positions once operational.
Expanded Air Canada routes from Billy Bishop will require additional hiring in ground operations and customer service, likely 60 to 90 jobs.
Combined, the transportation and warehousing announcements total around a modest 150 to 220 new roles.
Public administration continues to fill community focused roles
Police detachments, regulatory enforcement programs, community support hubs and search operations contributed modest but steady hiring. Manitoba’s community safety and support openings, the RCMP detachment in Niverville, minors as agents programs and landfill search staffing collectively represent 50 to 70 positions.
Provincial signals and national themes
Ontario recorded the highest number of new jobs across all sectors, with a combined estimated gain of 8,000 to 10,000 roles, heavily influenced by NextStar Energy, retail expansions and large construction projects. British Columbia followed with an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 jobs, supported by utilities projects, manufacturing openings and a wave of hospitality growth. Manitoba and Quebec showed consistent hiring in health care, retail and niche manufacturing.
Across the Prairies and Atlantic regions, construction remains the dominant driver of new work, especially in cultural centres, energy infrastructure and multi year community developments.
A labour market moving forward despite mixed macro signals
The combined announcements for the past month represent an estimated 28,000 to 30,000 jobs nationwide. The numbers highlight an economy where growth is uneven but still very active in specific pockets. Construction and manufacturing carry the strongest weight, healthcare continues to act as a stabilizing force, and consumer facing industries remain reliable contributors.
For staffing firms, these signals point toward near term opportunities in trades, engineering, production lines, healthcare support, restaurant operations, customer service and warehousing. While national trends may fluctuate, the ground level view shows a market still investing in capacity and preparing for future demand.