September Labour Market Figures: Quebec Stays Stable While Ontario Takes a Tumble

Statistics Canada reports 31,500 fewer jobs in Ontario in September, marking the fourth monthly decline in a row. Things are less turbulent in Quebec. Employment was largely flat in September (+200), thanks to an almost equal trade-off between part-time (down) and full-time (up) employment. A slowing economy means a slowdown in hiring, particularly in Ontario. But it doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see massive employment losses in the coming months. Even though the economy is expected to contract, the labour market remains tight and there’s high demand for workers. That means employers may think twice before announcing layoffs.