For the first time, Statistics Canada has released monthly results from the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS). The preliminary estimates for October 2020 provide the first look at job vacancy rates since the onset of the COVID-19 economic shutdown. The job vacancy rate is a key indicator of labour market conditions. A higher job vacancy rate indicates a tighter labour market where it is more difficult for employers to find suitable candidates for the positions offered. A lower job vacancy rate signals labour market slack and potentially more job seekers competing for each vacant position.

Canadian employers were seeking workers for an estimated 551,900 positions in October 2020 (unadjusted for seasonality) with a vacancy rate of 3.5%. Nationally, retail trade and health care and social assistance accounted for more than 30% of all job vacancies in October 2020. Retail trade had the highest number of job vacancies (92,800) and one of the highest vacancy rates among sectors at 4.7%. Health care and social assistance had the second-highest number of job vacancies at 80,700 with a vacancy rate of 3.8%. 

Nova Scotia had 11,765 job vacancies in October with a vacancy rate of 3.0%. The highest vacancy rates were reported for British Columbia (4.2%) and Quebec (4.0%). Newfoundland and Labrador had the lowest vacancy rate at 2.3%.   

Information on monthly job vacancies will continue in future Statistics Canada releases, and a more detailed analysis will be released with quarterly estimates from the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey in March 2021.

Sources: Statistics Canada Tables 14-10-0371-01 and 14-10-0372-01