Latest Labour Force survey data – March 2024

The labor market is still treading water, although some sectors such as healthcare, social assistance and education have seen strong job gains since last year. However, wage growth accelerated in March 2024, posing the risk of amplifying inflationary pressures.

Although the number of unemployed people has risen by 18% over the past year, the Saguenay and Quebec CMAs stand out as having the lowest unemployment rates in Canada, at 2.2% and 3.1% respectively. Most of the increase in unemployment is among men aged 25 to 54, despite the growth in their employment.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – February 2024

The Quebec labor market recorded few gains over the past year, in terms of both the number of jobs and hours worked. Even though average hourly wage growth remains above the inflation target of 2.0%, it is rising less rapidly than elsewhere in the country, widening the wage gap with Ontario.

Women aged 15 to 24 and those aged 55 and over have seen marked job losses, while men of the same age have seen gains. However, Quebec women remain much more present in the workforce than elsewhere in Canada, partly because of Quebec’s advantageous family policies.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – January 2024

The Quebec labor market remains stagnant, but resilient in the face of rising interest rates and the economic slowdown, with employment levels and hours worked virtually unchanged from last year.

Activity and employment rates remain high despite the slowdown in the job market, while the unemployment rate remains below 5%. Quebec City CMA stands out as having the lowest unemployment rate among Canadian CMAs, and the sixth-highest employment rate.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – December 2023

The economic context continues to have a negative impact on the Quebec labor market, with employment stagnating (+0.2%), hours worked down (-0.9% year-on-year) and wage growth (+3.6%) below that observed elsewhere in the country.

As a sign that the Quebec labor market is losing momentum, the employment rate for 15-64 year-olds (78.2%; +0.2 p.p.) is no longer the highest among Canadian provinces for the first time since June 2022. However, the Québec (2.7%) and Saguenay (3.0%) CMAs stand out as having the lowest unemployment rates of all Canadian CMAs.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – November 2023

The Quebec labor market is losing momentum compared to the rest of the country in terms of employment, hours worked and growth in average hourly earnings. On the other hand, the number of hours worked has increased, despite slight job losses in November 2023.

In a sign that the Quebec labor market is slowing down, the unemployment rate passed the 5.0% mark for the first time since January 2022. The Québec and Saguenay CMAs stand out, however, with the second and third lowest unemployment rates after the Peterborough CMA in Ontario.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – October 2023

After two months of consecutive increases, the labor market posted a slight decline, with more than half of all sectors recording losses. Average hourly wage growth remains high, however, given inflation targets.

Quebec’s unemployment rate is at its highest level since January 2022. However, Quebec continues to stand out from the rest of Canada, with the highest participation and employment rates for people aged 15 to 64. Despite the rise in the unemployment rate, it remains historically low at under 5.0%.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – September 2023

Labour market continues to surprise despite recessionary rhetoric. Employment growth continued in September 2023, with several sectors recording significant gains of over 10,000 jobs. At the same time, the end of the summer vacations saw a sharp increase in the number of hours worked.

Quebec continues to stand out from the rest of Canada, with the lowest unemployment rate and the highest employment rate among 15-64 year-olds. Quebec City and Sherbrooke CMAs also boast some of the lowest unemployment rates of all Canadian CMAs.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – August 2023

The number of jobs rose in August 2023, but the increase was not enough to offset the losses recorded in the previous two months. At the same time, Quebec recorded the lowest growth in average hourly earnings among the provinces.

Quebec still has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, as well as the highest employment and participation rates among 15-64 year-olds. This bears witness to the fact that, despite the economic slowdown, there is still a greater scarcity of labour here than elsewhere in the country.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – July 2023

Employment in Quebec fell slightly by 8,500 positions in July, mainly in the production sector. This decline is accompanied by a further slowdown in wage growth in Quebec, which is now weaker than the Canadian average.

The unemployment rate in Quebec rose slightly to 4.5% (+0.1 p.p.), but is now the lowest in Canada. The unemployment rate also increased in all Quebec CMAs except Sherbrooke.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – June 2023

Employment fell slightly (-8,400 jobs) in Quebec in June (-0.2%), mainly in the service sector (-0.4%). This decline was accompanied by a further slowdown in wage growth to 4.2%.

The unemployment rate in Quebec rose to 4.4% (+0.4 p.p.), the highest level for 9 months. The main age group recorded a loss of 12,500 jobs.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – May 2023

Employment growth was at a very low level in May (+1,600 jobs), responding to uncertainty about macroeconomic conditions over the coming months.

Quebec’s unemployment rate falls again to 4%, just above the historic low of 3.9%. The main age group (25 to 54) recorded a gain (+24,700), mainly in full-time positions.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Latest Labour Force survey data – April 2023

Jobs created in the services sector (+7,200 positions), mainly in the information, culture and recreation industry (+8.8%) contributed to the increase in the job market in April (+10,500 positions). This increase is mainly due to the resumption of film and television shoots for the summer season.

Young people aged 15 to 24, who are returning to work with the end of school, contributed to the increase in jobs (+7,900 positions). The unemployment rate falls slightly (-0.1 p.p.) to 4.1%.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Lastest Labour force survey data – March 2023

The jobs created in the service sector (+6,100) were completely offset by losses in the production sector (-7,800), resulting in a slight downturn in the job market (-1,600).

Full-time employment rose (+19,100), while part-time employment fell by the same amount (-20,800). This did not affect the main employment indicators in Quebec: the unemployment rate stood at 4.2%.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Lastest Labour force survey data – February 2023

Employment is down (-15,500 jobs) for the first time in seven months in Quebec, due to the service sector. Wage growth (+6.5%) and hours worked (-1.9% compared to January 2023) are also declining.

This decline in employment in Quebec has pushed the unemployment rate up to 4.1% (+0.2 p.p.), except for the Quebec City CMA (1.9%), which has seen its unemployment rate fall (-0.5 p.p.) to a historic low.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.

Lastest Labour force survey data – January 2023

Employment shows no sign of slowing down, with Quebec adding 47,400 jobs (+1.1%) in January, more than two-thirds of them in Montreal and more than half (51.9%) among those aged 55 and over.

This good performance led to a 3rd drop (-0.2 p.p.) in Quebec’s unemployment rate in four months (3.9%), further tightening an already tight job market.

Please note this publication is only issued in French.