Payroll employment, earnings and hours, and job vacancies, November 2025
Released: 2026-01-29
$1,317.16
November 2025
2.5% 
(12-month change)
$1,283.68
November 2025
0.9%
(12-month change)
$1,151.94
November 2025
5.6%
(12-month change)
$1,194.94
November 2025
4.5%
(12-month change)
$1,207.63
November 2025
3.6%
(12-month change)
$1,263.36
November 2025
2.3%
(12-month change)
$1,361.68
November 2025
2.6%
(12-month change)
$1,195.28
November 2025
3.9%
(12-month change)
$1,279.05
November 2025
3.9%
(12-month change)
$1,362.81
November 2025
1.7%
(12-month change)
$1,320.61
November 2025
2.2%
(12-month change)
$1,497.87
November 2025
1.5%
(12-month change)
$1,737.01
November 2025
-12.5% 
(12-month change)
$1,794.53
November 2025
2.0%
(12-month change)
The number of employees receiving pay and benefits from their employer—measured as "payroll employment" in the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours—decreased by 26,200 (-0.1%) in November, following an increase of 11,900 (+0.1%) in October. On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment was up by 48,300 (+0.3%) in November.
Chart 1
Payroll employment decreases in November, offsetting the increase in October
Monthly payroll employment declines were recorded in 10 of the 20 sectors in November, including retail trade (-4,700; -0.2%), manufacturing (-4,200; -0.3%), accommodation and food services (-3,600; -0.3%) and arts, entertainment and recreation (-2,700; -0.8%). The losses were partially offset by an increase in health care and social assistance (+2,000; +0.1%).
Meanwhile, there were 472,100 vacant positions in Canada in November, little changed from October, when a decrease of 18,800 (-3.9%) was observed. On a year-over-year basis, job vacancies were down by 67,200 (-12.5%) in November 2025.
Chart 2
Payroll employment decreases in 10 sectors and increases in 1 in November
Payroll employment in retail trade decreases in November
Payroll employment in retail trade decreased by 4,700 (-0.2%) in November, bringing the cumulative decline since June to 14,600 (-0.7%). The decline over this period was driven by clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers (-8,400; -4.0%) and sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers (-4,500; -2.2%).
Compared with one year earlier, payroll employment in retail trade was down 30,700 (-1.5%) in November, led by food and beverage retailers (-12,100; -2.2%) and general merchandise stores (-7,700; -2.9%). Year-over-year declines were recorded in seven out of nine subsectors.
Payroll employment in manufacturing continues a downward trend
In November, payroll employment in manufacturing decreased by 4,200 (-0.3%). Monthly declines were recorded in 8 out of 21 subsectors, led by transportation equipment manufacturing (-2,000; -1.0%), primary metal manufacturing (-500; -1.0%) and fabricated metal product manufacturing (-500; -0.3%).
Since January 2025, payroll employment in the sector has been on a downward trend, with a cumulative decline of 38,100 (-2.4%). Over this period, 19 out of 21 subsectors recorded payroll employment decreases, led by transportation equipment manufacturing (-9,300; -4.6%), food manufacturing (-5,000; -1.9%) and chemical manufacturing (-3,800; -4.0%).
Payroll employment in accommodation and food services records third consecutive monthly decline
Payroll employment in accommodation and food services decreased in November (-3,600; -0.3%) for the third consecutive month, bringing the cumulative loss since September to 9,000 (-0.7%). These recent declines partially offset the cumulative gain recorded from April to August (+14,800; +1.2%).
On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment in this sector was down 10,500 (-0.8%) in November, with declines recorded in four out of six industries. Full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places (-7,700; -0.8%) accounted for most (73.2%) of the year-over-year decline.
Health care and social assistance payroll employment on upward trend
Payroll employment in health care and social assistance rose by 2,000 (+0.1%) in November, following a cumulative increase of 19,500 (+0.8%) in September and October. Payroll employment in this sector has generally trended upward since September 2022, with an overall gain of 266,000 (+12.0%) over this period.
Since September 2025, cumulative increases in payroll employment have been recorded in 15 out of 18 industries in the sector, led by general medical and surgical hospitals (+5,000; +0.8%), child day-care services (+4,700; +2.3%) and home health care services (+2,600; +2.9%).
Average weekly earnings continue to increase
Year over year, average weekly earnings were up 2.5% to $1,317 in November, following an increase of 2.0% in October. In general, growth in average weekly earnings can reflect a range of factors, including changes in wages, composition of employment, hours worked and base-year effects.
Month over month, average weekly earnings were little changed in November.
In November, average weekly hours worked (33.3 hours) were little changed month over month but were down 0.6% on a year-over-year basis.
Job vacancies little changed in November
In November, there were 472,100 vacant positions in Canada, little changed from October, when a decrease of 18,800 (-3.9%) was observed. On a year-over-year basis, job vacancies were down by 67,200 (-12.5%) in November 2025.
The job vacancy rate—which corresponds to the number of vacant positions as a proportion of total labour demand—was 2.6% in November, unchanged from October. The rate was down by 0.4 percentage points from November 2024 (3.0%).
There were 3.2 unemployed persons for every job vacancy in November 2025, down from 3.3 in October. On a year-over-year basis, the ratio was up by 0.2 in November 2025. This increase was the result of job vacancies decreasing at a faster rate (-12.5%; -67,300, excluding the territories) than the number of unemployed persons (-4.9%; -75,800) (according to the Labour Force Survey).
Infographic 1
The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio decreases in November, while vacancies are little changed
Job vacancies increase in two sectors and decrease in three
In November, job vacancies were up in finance and insurance (+5,100; +33.5%) and wholesale trade (+2,300; +12.6%). Meanwhile, job vacancies were down in construction (-4,800; -12.8%), information and cultural industries (-1,400; -21.2%) and management of companies and enterprises (-600; -28.2%).
In construction, the decline in November brought the number of vacancies (32,500) to its lowest level since August 2018 (32,300). In November 2025, the job vacancy rate in this sector fell by 0.4 percentage points to 2.7%, the lowest rate in this sector since September 2017 (2.7%).
Year over year, job vacancies were down in nine sectors in November 2025. The largest declines were recorded in health care and social assistance (-21,800; -18.5%), accommodation and food services (-10,400; -16.3%) and construction (-7,300; -18.3%). These three sectors accounted for nearly three-fifths (58.6%) of the total year-over-year decline in vacancies. Over the same period, no sectors recorded an increase in job vacancies.
Chart 3
Year over year, job vacancies are down in nine sectors in November
Job vacancies down in three provinces year over year
The overall year-over-year decline in the number of vacancies in November (-67,200; -12.5%) was concentrated in British Columbia (-25,200; -26.3%), Ontario (-24,800; -13.5%) and Quebec (-10,900; -8.7%).
In November 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador (5.4) had the highest unemployment-to-job-vacancy ratio, followed by Ontario (4.2) and Prince Edward Island (3.4). Meanwhile, Quebec (2.2) had the lowest unemployment-to-job-vacancy ratio, followed by Saskatchewan (2.3) and Manitoba (2.5).
Map 1
Job vacancy rate and unemployment-to-job-vacancy ratio, November 2025
Sustainable Development Goals
On January 1, 2016, the world officially began implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—the United Nations' transformative plan of action that addresses urgent global challenges over the next 15 years. The plan is based on 17 specific sustainable development goals.
The Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours is an example of how Statistics Canada supports the reporting on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. This release will be used in helping to measure the following goals:
Note to readers
Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours
The key objective of the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours (SEPH) is to provide a monthly portrait of the level of earnings, employment and hours worked, by detailed industry, at the national, provincial and territorial levels.
Payroll employment, as measured by the SEPH, refers to the number of employees receiving pay and benefits (employment income) during a given month. The survey excludes the self-employed, owners and partners of unincorporated businesses and professional practices, and employees in the agricultural sector.
SEPH estimates are produced by integrating information from three sources: a census of approximately 1 million payroll deduction records provided by the Canada Revenue Agency; the Business Payrolls Survey, which collects data from a sample of 15,000 establishments; and administrative records of federal, provincial and territorial public administration employment, provided by these levels of government.
Estimates of average weekly earnings and hours worked are based on a sample and are therefore subject to sampling variability. This analysis focuses on differences between estimates that are statistically significant at the 68% confidence level. Payroll employment estimates are based on a census of administrative data and are not subject to sampling variability.
With each release of SEPH data, data for the preceding month are revised. Users are encouraged to use the most up-to-date data available for each month.
Statistics Canada also produces employment estimates from its Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFS is a monthly household survey, the main objective of which is to divide the working-age population into three mutually exclusive groups: the employed (including the self-employed), the unemployed and those not in the labour force. This survey is the official source for the unemployment rate, and it collects data on the sociodemographic characteristics of all people in the labour market.
Employment trends from the SEPH and from the LFS generally track each other closely, especially over longer periods. That said, because of differences in concepts, definitions and methodologies, variations in employment levels in SEPH and in the LFS may differ, especially over shorter periods. For a more in-depth discussion of the conceptual differences between employment measures from the LFS and the SEPH, refer to Section 8 of the Guide to the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours (72-203-G).
The SEPH and LFS both also provide monthly indicators of pay received by employees. Used together, average weekly earnings (from SEPH) and average hourly wages (from the LFS) can provide a comprehensive portrait of pay dynamics in Canada. For information on definitions for each indicator, key conceptual and measurement differences, and guidance to data users on when to use each indicator, refer to the report "Earnings and Wages – A guide to using indicators from the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours and the Labour Force Survey."
Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted data, which facilitate comparisons because the effects of seasonal variations are removed. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.
Non-farm payroll employment data are for all hourly and salaried employees and for the "other employees" category, which includes piece-rate and commission-only employees.
Unless otherwise specified, average weekly hours data are for hourly and salaried employees only and exclude businesses that could not be classified to a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2022 version 1.0 code.
All earnings data include overtime and exclude businesses that could not be classified to a NAICS code. Earnings data are based on gross taxable payroll before source deductions. Average weekly earnings are derived by dividing total weekly earnings by the number of employees. Changes in average weekly earnings can reflect a range of factors, including changes in wages, composition of employment, hours worked and base-year effects.
The base-year effect refers to the impact that trends from 12 months earlier (the base month) have on the current month's estimate of year-over-year change. In the case of SEPH, when the average weekly earnings in the base month is at the peak of a short-term trend, this tends to have a downward effect on year-over-year average weekly earnings growth in the current month. In contrast, if the value of the base month is at a low point of a trend, this tends to have an upward effect on the current month's year-over-year growth in average weekly earnings.
Job Vacancy and Wage Survey
The Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (JVWS) collection is done on a quarterly basis. The quarterly sample of business locations is allocated to the three collection months of the quarter, approximately balanced by province and by industrial sector across each of the three months. This allows both quarterly and monthly estimates to be produced.
Preliminary monthly estimates are produced for job vacancies, job vacancy rates and payroll employment using available responses from business locations sampled in the corresponding reference month. The reference period for the JVWS is the first day of the respective month. This analysis focuses on differences between estimates that are statistically significant at the 68% confidence level.
These preliminary monthly estimates are revised and finalized when the corresponding quarterly estimates are released or shortly thereafter. Users are encouraged to use the most up-to-date data available for each month.
Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted data, which facilitate comparisons because the effects of seasonal variations are removed. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.
While JVWS employment is calibrated to the SEPH, SEPH payroll employment and JVWS preliminary monthly employment figures may differ because of calibration grouping and differences in scope and reference period.
The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio excludes the territories for consistency with the geographic coverage of the comparable LFS data (table 14-10-0287-01).
The JVWS also provides comprehensive quarterly data on job vacancies by industrial sector and detailed occupation for Canada and the provinces, territories and economic regions; offered hourly wages; and job vacancy characteristics. More information about the concepts and use of data from the JVWS is available in the Guide to the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey (75-514-G).
Real-time data tables
Tables 14-10-0357-01 and 14-10-0358-01 have now been archived.
Real-time data tables 14-10-0331-01 and 14-10-0332-01 will be updated on February 16, 2026.
New data table on monthly payroll employment for agriculture and support activities
A new data table (14-10-0481-01) presenting the number of payroll employees in the agriculture and support activities industries is now available on the Statistics Canada website. This new monthly table includes all industries primarily engaged in crop production, animal production and aquaculture, and their respective support activities since January 2025.
To classify employment data by industry, the SEPH program uses industry codes assigned to businesses based on their main revenue-generating activity, using the NAICS. The population covered in this new SEPH data table includes crop production (NAICS 111), support activities for crop production (NAICS 1151), animal production and aquaculture (NAICS 112), and support activities for animal production (NAICS 1152). It is important to note that these agriculture-related industries are excluded from the total SEPH employment counts presented in table 14-10-0201-01.
Next release
December 2025 data for SEPH and JVWS will be released on February 26, 2026.
Products
More information about the concepts and use of the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours is available in the Guide to the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours (72-203-G).
The product "Earnings and payroll employment in brief: Interactive app" (14200001) is now available. This interactive data visualization application provides a comprehensive picture of the Canadian labour market using the most recent data from the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours. The estimates are seasonally adjusted and available by province and largest industrial sector. Historical estimates that go back 10 years are also included. The interactive application allows users to explore and personalize the information presented quickly and easily. Combine multiple provinces and industrial sectors to create your own labour market domains of interest.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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