2026.01.0913:44:20UTC+00Canada Employment Unexpectedly Rises

In December 2025, Canada's employment figures remained relatively stable, with a modest increase of 8,200 positions. This followed three consecutive months of substantial growth, totaling 181,000 from September through November, surpassing market expectations of a slight decline. The rise in employment was primarily attributed to full-time positions, which increased by 50,000, while part-time employment saw a reduction of 42,000. Notable job increases were observed in the healthcare and social assistance sectors, with an addition of 21,000 jobs (a 0.7% increase), and in sectors offering personal and repair services, which grew by 15,000 jobs (a 2.0% increase). Conversely, there was a decrease in employment within professional, scientific, and technical services, which saw a drop of 18,000 jobs (a 0.9% decrease). Employment levels in other industries showed little significant change. Provincially, Quebec experienced an employment rise of 16,000 jobs (a 0.3% increase), whereas Alberta saw a decline of 14,000 jobs (a 0.5% decrease) and Saskatchewan lost 4,000 jobs (a 0.6% decrease). The other provinces registered minimal changes in employment figures.