Canada’s Job Market Update: March 2026
Canada saw a small rebound in jobs this March, but the bigger picture still shows a slowing labour market. 📊 What Happened in March? Canada added 14,000 jobs in March, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada. While this is a step in the right direction, it only recovers a small portion of the 84,000 jobs lost in February, which came as a surprise to many economists. The unemployment
🏡 Ontario Proposes HST Break on New Homes
The Ontario government is planning a temporary tax break on newly built homes to help make housing more affordable. The proposal would remove the full 13% HST on eligible new homes for one year, working alongside the federal government. 💰 What Buyers Could Save If this plan goes through, here’s what it could mean: 🗓️ Program timeline: April 1, 2026 → March 31, 2027 🏗️ Some projects could still qualify
Canada’s Economy Slows Down
Canada’s economy shrank more than expected in the last three months of 2025. 📉 GDP fell by 0.6% in the fourth quarter, according to Statistics Canada.For the full year, the economy grew by 1.7%, marking the weakest annual growth since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. That slowdown happened as businesses reduced their inventories, even though consumers were still spending, businesses continued investing, and governments increased spending. 🏦 Will
Canada’s Jobs Report at a Glance 📊
Canada lost 24,800 jobs last month, surprising economists who were expecting modest job growth. The biggest hit came from manufacturing, as U.S. tariffs continue to weigh on export-focused industries. 📉 Employment Fell, But Unemployment Also Dropped Despite job losses, Canada’s unemployment rate fell to 6.5%, down from 6.8%. Why?Fewer people were actively looking for work, which lowered the overall unemployment rate. The labour force participation rate dropped to 65%, its
📊 Canada’s Unemployment Rate Rises in December
Canada ended the year with a higher unemployment rate, even though more jobs were added to the economy. According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate climbed to 6.8% in December, up from 6.5% in November. The increase was driven by more people actively looking for work, not by widespread job losses. 💼 Jobs Still Added, Beating Expectations Despite the higher jobless rate, the economy added 8,200 jobs in December, outperforming
Canada’s Inflation Rate Holds Steady in November 📊
Canada’s annual inflation rate remained unchanged at 2.2% in November, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The reading matched October’s pace and came in slightly below economist expectations of 2.3%. While overall inflation stayed steady, the details show a shift in what is driving prices higher and lower across the economy. Food Prices Take the Lead 🍎🥩 The main source of upward pressure in November came from food costs.
Are We in a Recession? CIBC’s Benjamin Tal Says Yes
🏦 Canada’s Economic Reality: A “Per-Capita Recession” CIBC’s deputy chief economist Benjamin Tal believes Canada’s economy is in a recession — even if it doesn’t yet meet the technical definition.Speaking at the Mortgage Professionals Canada national conference in Ottawa, Tal said that while GDP might not show two straight quarters of decline, the downturn is being felt across households. “If it’s not officially a recession, it’s definitely a per-person recession
Canada Adds 60,400 Jobs in September, But Unemployment Stays at 7.1%
Despite stronger-than-expected job growth, Canada’s unemployment rate held steady in September as more people entered the workforce. 📈 Job Growth Beats Expectations According to Statistics Canada, employment rose by 60,400 jobs in September, well above forecasts that predicted only 5,000. Most of the gains came from full-time positions, showing that job quality is improving. The employment rate (the share of working-age Canadians who have a job) climbed slightly to 60.6%.