Overview

Canada's job market in 2025 presents a paradoxical landscape: while overall job vacancies have declined to their lowest level since 2018, specific sectors continue experiencing acute talent shortages. In Q2 2025, Canada recorded 505,900 job vacancies, down 12.6% from the previous year, yet strategic sectors like healthcare, skilled trades, and technology remain critically understaffed. With the federal government launching unprecedented infrastructure initiatives worth over $60 billion and pursuing ambitious economic goals, understanding which occupations are truly in demand has never been more crucial for job seekers and career planners.

Understanding Canada's Q2 2025 Job Vacancy Landscape

Vacancies are declining, competition is growing

The 505,900 job vacancies recorded in Q2 2025 represent the lowest figure since Q1 2018, signaling a tightening labor market. The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio climbed to 2.9 in Q2 2025, up from 2.2 a year earlier, meaning nearly three unemployed individuals now compete for every vacant position.

The decline wasn't uniform across all sectors. Six major occupational groups experienced significant declines, including trades, transport and equipment operators, which saw a 6.1% decrease. However, occupations in art, culture, recreation, and sport increased by 9.5%, demonstrating that opportunity varies dramatically by sector.

What's driving the shift?

The proportion of long-term vacancies—positions unfilled for 90+ days—declined to 27.5% nationally, down from 30.1% a year earlier. This suggests employers are either finding candidates more quickly or adjusting their hiring criteria amid economic uncertainty.

Business sentiment was weak throughout the economy in Q2, with many firms putting hiring plans on hold. Trade-exposed sectors, particularly manufacturing, have evolved similarly to other industries despite external pressures.

The Top 10 Most In-Demand Occupations in Canada (2025)

Based on Statistics Canada's Q2 2025 data and recent labor market analysis, these occupations show the strongest demand:

1. Healthcare Workers

Registered Nurses (RNs)

Statistics Canada reports 5,325 nurse vacancies in British Columbia alone, with projections indicating nearly 27,000 nurses will be needed by 2031. Demand spans all provinces, with specialized areas like critical care, emergency, and cardiology particularly sought after.

• Average Salary: $70,000–$95,000
• Key Demand Areas: Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta
• Pathways: Eligible for Express Entry healthcare draws; prioritized in Provincial Nominee Programs

Nurse Aides, Orderlies, and Patient Service Associates

This occupation category is expected to see 16% growth from 2025 to 2031, with an increase of over 53,489 positions across Canada. These frontline workers assist with daily patient activities and are critical as Canada's population ages.

• Average Salary: $38,000–$52,000
• Education: Often requires only secondary school completion with specialized training
• Job Settings: Hospitals, long-term care facilities, home care agencies

Medical Laboratory Technologists

Lab technologists play a key role in diagnosing diseases and monitoring treatments, with expanding testing capacity increasing demand in hospitals and private labs.

• Average Salary: $68,000–$78,000
• Credentials: Certification with the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS)

Pharmacists

Pharmacists are expanding their role in public health, offering immunizations, medication reviews, and chronic disease consultations.

• Average Salary: $95,000–$115,000
• Growth Drivers: Aging population, expanded scope of practice

2. Software Engineers and Developers

Software engineer/developer positions saw significant demand in H2 2024, with 3,800 new jobs in business services, 1,000 in manufacturing, and 1,100 in the technology sector itself. Having said that, junior engineers and developers are still struggling to land jobs, since most needs are being increasingly filled by LLM's. The market needs senior engineering workforce.

• Average Salary: $100,000–$180,000
• Specializations in Demand: Full stack developers, DevOps engineers, cloud architects
• Growth Projection: 14% growth expected from 2025 to 2031, adding an estimated 15,061 positions

3. Administrative Assistants

Administrative assistant roles dominated job postings across multiple sectors in H2 2024, including 2,800 in business services, 1,200 in government, 800 in manufacturing, and 700 in consumer products.

The demand for administrative assistants is high in 2025, coupled with limited supply of available and qualified candidates, with provinces such as Ontario and Manitoba including this occupation in their PNP draws.

• Average Salary: $42,000–$58,000
• Why High Demand: Essential across all industries; experienced candidates retiring faster than new entrants

4. Accountants and Financial Professionals

Accountants

Accountants are vital to business operations, with companies of all sizes requiring professional individuals skilled in managing finances, auditing and taxation.

• Average Salary: $55,000–$85,000
• Top Roles: Senior accountants, senior business analysts, senior financial analysts

Accounting Clerks and Bookkeepers

Accounting clerk positions saw 1,500 new openings in business services and 400 in manufacturing during H2 2024, while bookkeeper roles added 900 in business services and 400 in government.

5. Customer Service Specialists

Customer service specialist roles were among the highest in demand across sectors, with 2,300 in business services, 2,200 in consumer products, 1,700 in finance and insurance, and 1,200 in manufacturing. AI is not taking over these roles any time soon. While AI is being implemented to optimize customer service work, the field still needs humans to oversee, train and configure, and monitor.

• Average Salary: $40,000–$52,000
• Why Persistent Demand: High turnover rates, expansion of service-based economy

6. Skilled Trades

Electricians

Critical for infrastructure development, residential construction, and renewable energy projects. Electricians appear on the Skilled Worker Canada List under NOC 7241.

• Average Salary: $60,000–$85,000
• Certification: Provincial trade certification required

Plumbers and Pipefitters

Plumbers appear under NOC 7251 on Canada's shortage occupation list. With aging infrastructure and continuous construction needs, demand remains steady.

• Average Salary: $58,000–$82,000

Welders and Carpenters

The construction boom in various provinces, coupled with retirements in these trades, has led to labor shortages.

7. Social Workers

Canada has growing demand for social workers in 2025, causing it to be one of the most targeted occupations in Express Entry category-based selection draws.

• Average Salary: $55,000–$75,000
• Provincial Priority: Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia prioritizing through PNPs
• Minimum Education: College or university degree in social work, psychology, or related discipline

8. Project Coordinators and Assistants

Project assistant/coordinator roles saw 1,900 new positions in business services and 400 in manufacturing during H2 2024.

• Average Salary: $48,000–$68,000
• Why In Demand: Infrastructure boom, complex cross-functional projects requiring coordination

9. Receptionists and Office Managers

Receptionist positions added 1,400 in business services, 700 in consumer products, and 300 in government, while office manager roles contributed 1,000 in business services, 400 in government, and 400 in manufacturing.

• Average Salary: Receptionists $35,000–$48,000; Office Managers $52,000–$72,000

10. Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Workers

This occupation is expected to see 15% growth from 2025 to 2031 with an increase of 12,826 positions in Canada.

• Average Salary: $35,000–$50,000
• Why Growing: Urbanization, emphasis on green spaces, climate adaptation

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