High Demand Job Vacancies Post-Pandemic in Canada

High Demand Job Vacancies Post-Pandemic Across Canada

3 minute read

"In its latest Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada reported that the number of job vacancies in all occupations across the country has hit a record high in the second quarter of 2021. Job vacancies in healthcare, hospitality, and retail industries across Canada increased as the pandemic-related restrictions were eased."

Written by My Visa Source Team
Published on: Oct 21, 2021

In its latest Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada reported that the number of job vacancies in all occupations across the country has hit a record high in the second quarter of 2021. Job vacancies in healthcare, hospitality, and retail industries across Canada increased as the pandemic-related restrictions were eased.

How Have Job Vacancies Increased Because of the Pandemic?

The job Vacancy Rate in Canada reached an all-time high in the second quarter since comparable data became available in 2015. The job vacancy rate hit 4.6% in the second quarter of 2021, a 1.1% increase since the second quarter of 2019.

In the second quarter of 2021, the job vacancy rate experienced a growth of 25.8%, meaning there were 150,300 more jobs available in 2021 compared to the same period in 2019.

Statistics Canada also reported that 8.3% of businesses in Canada are expected to have more job vacancies in the third quarter. This significant increase in overall employment can be attributed to the sudden loss of jobs during the pandemic.

How Can Foreign Nationals Work In Canada?

If you are planning to come to Canada to be employed, then you can get a temporary work permit through the Global Talent Stream (GTS) of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

You can also apply for permanent residence through the various immigration pathways available, including the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP).

What Industries Experienced More Job Vacancies During the Pandemic?

Healthcare Industry:

Healthcare industries greatly benefitted in the second quarter of 2021. The demand for nurses in the healthcare industry has shot up by 85.8% since the pandemic began in 2020. The job vacancies in healthcare and social assistance increased by 59.9% or 40,800 in 2021 compared to the same period in 2019.

Healthcare industries are finding it hard to fill these vacancies with many job postings remaining unfilled for more than 90 days. The average hourly wage for registered nurses also hit $32.50 during the second quarter of 2021, meaning a 5.9% pay hike since the same quarter in 2019.

Hospitality Industry:

The job vacancy rate for the hospitality industry also increased by 14.9% or 11,600 jobs. This brought the total number of vacancies in this industry to 89,100, the highest since 2019.

Retail Industry:

The retail industry is also posting more job vacancies. In the second quarter of 2021, the job vacancy rate in the retail sector increased by almost a third. Around 19,900 jobs were added to the sector. Retail sale clerks and store shelf stockers, clerks, and order fillers were among the top in-demand occupations across various Canadian provinces post-pandemic. They also experienced a 7.5% increase in hourly wage during this period.

Construction Industry:

The construction industry also experienced an increase in the job vacancy rate by 46.7%. Around 19,900 job vacancies were added in the second quarter of 2021. The demand for skilled tradespeople in the construction industry has also increased. In 2018, immigrants made up 21.8% of the Canadian population, however, they only accounted for 8.7% of tradespeople in the industry. Canada had the immigration level target of inviting around 3,000 skilled tradespeople every year. However, only 2,365 such newcomers were admitted in 2019.

Manufacturing Industry:

The job vacancy rate in the manufacturing industry increased by 28.9% or 14,800 jobs in the second quarter of 2021. This is the highest rate since 2015. This also increased the demand for workers in food manufacturing and wood product manufacturing industries.