The Labour Force Survey for February 2025 shows a stable job market, with some notable changes. The unemployment rate remains unchanged at 6.6%, holding steady after a slight decline in the previous months. Employment increased marginally by 1,100 jobs, or 0.0%, following a strong surge in job growth during the previous three months.
One of the more significant shifts in the report comes from women aged 25 to 54. This group saw an increase in employment by 27,000 jobs, or 0.4%, a continuation of a trend from January. Meanwhile, women over 55 experienced a decline in employment, losing 15,000 jobs, or 0.8%. This suggests that younger women are continuing to make strides in the workforce, while older women are facing more difficulty maintaining employment.
For men, the job numbers were largely unchanged. The employment rate for men in the 25-54 age group has remained steady since October 2024, while the employment rate for core-aged women in February held at a solid 80.5%.
The February report also sheds light on sector-specific performance. The wholesale and retail trade industries saw strong growth, adding 51,000 jobs, a 1.7% increase. This shows the continuing recovery of the retail sector, which was hit hard during the pandemic but has recently bounced back. The finance, insurance, and real estate sectors also saw growth with 16,000 jobs added.
On the other hand, the professional, scientific, and technical services sectors experienced a noticeable downturn, losing 33,000 jobs, or 1.6%. Transportation and warehousing, another key sector, also saw a decline, with 23,000 jobs lost, or 2.1%.
Regionally, employment in Nova Scotia dropped by 4,300 jobs, or 0.8%. The decline was entirely in part-time work, and the province’s unemployment rate rose to 6.6%. Meanwhile, other provinces saw little change in their employment numbers. Quebec, which has experienced steady growth in recent months, saw a stable unemployment rate of 5.3% in February, while Ontario’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 7.3% following a minor drop in the number of job seekers.
One of the key factors affecting employment was the severe winter weather that hit central and eastern Canada. Snowstorms during the Labour Force Survey reference week caused 429,000 workers to lose hours, far more than the usual impact of weather on employment. This accounted for a 1.3% drop in total hours worked in February, the largest monthly decrease since 2022. Despite this, year-over-year figures still show a slight uptick in total hours worked.
Despite the minimal increase in employment, wages saw a solid jump. Average hourly wages rose by 3.8% from the previous year, reaching $36.14 an hour. This increase continues a trend seen in January, signaling stronger earnings in some parts of the economy, even as employment growth remains sluggish.
As International Women’s Day approaches, it’s important to reflect on the role of women in Canada’s labour force. While employment for women aged 25-54 increased in February, a deeper look reveals that women are more likely than men to work part-time or juggle multiple jobs. In fact, 15.7% of employed women in this age group worked part-time in their main job, compared to just 6.1% of men. Many women cited child care responsibilities as a major factor in their part-time work.
Additionally, 7.6% of employed women in this group worked multiple jobs, a higher percentage than men, who stood at 5.2%. These numbers highlight the ongoing challenge women face in balancing family responsibilities with their professional lives.
There is also the persistent issue of the gender pay gap. Women in the core-aged group earned an average of $36.04 per hour, significantly lower than men, who earned $41.02 on average. This gap remains a key focus for policymakers, even though it has narrowed in recent years.
Another notable shift is the growing willingness of Canadians to move for a job. A recent survey found that 30.3% of the Canadian labour force, aged 18 to 64, would consider relocating to another province for a suitable job. This is an increase of 3.5 percentage points from 2022, when unemployment was lower.
Interestingly, men were more likely than women to consider relocation, with 32.9% of men willing to move compared to 27.4% of women. Workers in natural sciences and applied fields were the most willing to relocate, suggesting that certain sectors may be more mobile than others.