Canada lost 35,400 payroll jobs in December, a decline of 0.2 percent, after little change in November. Compared with 2024, payroll employment was down 28,300, also 0.2 percent.
Manufacturing shed 7,400 jobs due to fabricated metal and wood products. In 2025, manufacturing payrolls have fallen by 40,600 positions, led by transportation equipment, food and chemical manufacturing.
Wholesale trade lost 6,300 jobs. Transportation and warehousing fell by 5,900 positions after a 6,100 drop in truck transportation. Accommodation and food services cut 5,000 jobs, and educational services lost 4,600.
The construction sector added 2,600 jobs in December, and health care and social assistance rose by 2,300.
Average weekly earnings increased 1.9 percent from 2025 to $1,316.18. Average weekly hours fell to 33.2, down 0.3 percent from November and 0.9 percent from 2025.
Job vacancies rose to 514,600 in December, up 23,700 from November and the highest level since March 2024.
The national job vacancy rate increased to 2.9 percent from 2.7 percent in November, while remaining below the 3.0 percent rate 2024.
Over the year, vacancy levels fell in Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. However, British Columbia and Ontario recorded monthly increases.