Canada Seen Adding 20,000 Private-Sector Jobs in August as Unemployment Holds at 6.4%
Updated
Updated · continuumeconomics.com · Aug 20
Canada Seen Adding 20,000 Private-Sector Jobs in August as Unemployment Holds at 6.4%
1 articles · Updated · continuumeconomics.com · Aug 20
Summary
Analysts expect Canada’s August employment report, due Sept. 4, to show a moderate hiring gain after July’s strong month, with unemployment edging down to 6.37% before rounding and staying at 6.4%.
A 15,000 rise in full-time work and 5,000 in part-time jobs is expected to drive the increase, while the labor force is seen growing a modest 10,000 after a 60,500 jump in July.
Services are forecast to add 30,000 jobs, slower than gains above 60,000 in June and July, while goods employment is seen falling 10,000 as manufacturing slips 5,000 and construction stays flat.
Private-sector employment is projected to rise 20,000, with possible public-sector improvement after June-July weakness partly offset by a pullback in self-employment after a strong July.
The outlook points to an economy still recovering from a Q2 2025 pause tied to U.S. tariffs, with permanent hourly wage growth expected to tick up to 3.2% year over year from 3.0%.