“Fortunately, the Canadian labour market got here into the present tariff disaster on strong footing, which is essential given the numerous headwinds the economic system is dealing with,” he mentioned.
Canada’s combined employment outlook
StatCan’s figures present a lack of 19,700 full-time roles in February, offset by a achieve of 20,800 part-time jobs.
Job progress final month was led by the wholesale and retail commerce sectors and the finance, insurance coverage, actual property, rental and leasing industries.
These beneficial properties had been offset by losses in skilled, scientific and technical providers and transportation and warehousing.
Canada’s manufacturing trade, which led job beneficial properties in January, contracted by 4,800 positions in February. Ontario was an outlier from the losses, including one other 10,800 manufacturing jobs within the month and almost matching January’s beneficial properties.
Bernard mentioned the manufacturing trade is without doubt one of the key barometers for anticipated impacts from tariffs on Canada’s economic system.
Whereas the information up to now doesn’t present the sector bleeding jobs, Bernard mentioned listings for manufacturing and manufacturing jobs on Certainly fell 7% in February, suggesting a slowdown in hiring forward.
“The clouds are nonetheless, I feel, on the horizon, moderately than the storm raging at present,” he mentioned.