Canada had 510,200 vacant jobs in the second quarter of 2026, little changed from the previous quarter, Statistics Canada reported in its September 15 release. That followed an increase of 13,300 vacancies in the first quarter. Openings for part-time work rose by 3,600, or 2.8%, while full-time vacancies showed little change.
The quarterly stability also extended to permanent and temporary positions. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, overall vacancies were little changed, although openings for temporary positions increased by 4,000, or 4.4%.
Total labour demand, which combines filled jobs and vacant positions, increased by 58,100, or 0.3%, from the first quarter. Statistics Canada attributed that rise to higher payroll employment, which grew by 55,600. The vacancy rate stayed at 2.8%, matching both the previous quarter and the second quarter of 2025.
There were three unemployed people for each vacancy, unchanged from the first quarter and slightly below the ratio of 3.1 a year earlier. That ratio excludes the territories. The figures are seasonally adjusted, allowing comparisons that account for regular seasonal changes. They describe the second quarter of 2026, rather than conditions on the publication date.
