is beginning to recover, and a third of Canadian professionals plan to look for a new role in the new year, according to a survey released this week.
That's up from 26 percent in July, when Canada's economic outlook looked more uncertain, the management consulting firm said.
Robert Hough, who conducted the survey.
Job growth in recent months has exceeded past forecasts, prompting one economist to exclaim, “Canada's labor market is on fire.”
Economy
In November, as forecasters expected job losses, the unemployment rate fell from 6.9% to 6.5%, its second straight decline.
“Many professionals chose not to change jobs through 2025 due to economic and global uncertainty, but as we enter 2026, there are signs of more movement,” said Koula Vassilopoulos, senior managing director at Robert Half Canada.
The main reason employees want to move is for better benefits and perks, and for only the second time this has been recorded as the highest motivator since the firm began tracking employee sentiment.
Competitive pay was the second most important reason, and limited career opportunities in the current position was the third.
For younger workers, the highest priority was a hybrid position with three to four days in the office.
Forty-three percent of technology professionals said they would start looking for work in the new year, as did 41 percent of Gen Z workers and 39 percent of working parents.
However, a separate survey of job seekers by Robert Half suggests that some optimism about the job market may be unfounded.
More than 60 per cent of Canadians who are currently between jobs said they expect their job search to take longer than the previous one.
Sixty-two percent said there were too many applicants and too much competition for positions, and 30 percent found their skills did not match the job requirements.
Other challenges identified by respondents included lengthy recruitment processes and difficulties in demonstrating qualifications.
“Job seekers face new challenges in the current climate and may find it more difficult than ever to stand out in a crowded market,” Vassilopoulos said.
Not everyone believes in a jobs recovery in Canada. Economist
a note published last month argued that Canada's recent numbers were a mirage.
While Statistics Canada's Labor Force Survey signals a jobs boom, its Survey of Employment, Wages and Hours (SEPH) tells a different story, said Rosenberg, founder and president of Rosenberg Research & Associates Inc.
The number of employees receiving wages and benefits fell by 58,000 in September, according to the latest report. For the first time in five years, the payroll was “completely flat,” he said.
“This is a sign that there is more weakness in the Canadian labor market than meets the eye… if we were to overlay the SEPH employment trend with the LFS (household household) survey, the unemployment rate would be 8.2 per cent rather than 6.9 per cent – and that would be the highest since May 2021,” Rosenberg said.
Register here to have Posthaste delivered straight to your inbox.
Psst, want to buy a used car? According to a year-end report from car sales site Clutch, the cheapest place in Canada to do so is Prince Edward Island. The average sales price of $29,050 is the lowest in Canada as a higher share of older, cheaper cars and compact SUVs keep the market affordable.
Alberta is at the other end of the spectrum. Average vehicles in Canada's most expensive used car market cost $37,695 and tend to be new, high-spec trucks and larger SUVs.
“A dry climate that makes transportation easier and one of the highest household incomes in Canada supports demand for higher-value goods and corresponding prices,” the Clutch report said.
- Today's data: Canadian international merchandise trade, US trade balance, wholesale trade
- Earnings: Empire Co Ltd., Dollarama Inc., Costco Wholesale Corp., Lululemon Athletica Inc., Broadcom Inc.
- The current generation of Canadians is rapidly increasing their wealth and could soon overthrow the Boomers.
- This Canadian mine is the size of a city. There is a basketball court and chefs serve 4,000 meals daily.
- 'The Wild West is out there': Cargo theft reports are on the rise in Canada, but that's just the tip of the iceberg
In the second quarter of 2025, Canadian household wealth reached a new collective high of $17.87 trillion, but there are sharp gaps between generations. In the latest Financial Post Quarterly Wealth Report, Sira Louis reveals the generational drama, from the rising Generation X to the struggles of younger generations.
Interested in energy? FP West's subscriber-only newsletter, Energy Insider, brings you exclusive reporting and in-depth analysis of one of the country's most important sectors.
McLister on mortgages
Want to learn more about mortgages? Mortgage strategist Robert McLister
can help you navigate a complex sector, from the latest trends to funding opportunities you won't want to miss. Plus check it out
for the lowest national mortgage rates in Canada, updated daily.
Financial post on YouTube
Visit Financial Post
for interviews with Canada's leading experts on business, economics, housing, the energy sector and more.
Today's Posthaste was written by Pamela Haven with additional reporting by staff from the Financial Post, The Canadian Press and Bloomberg.
Do you have a story idea, presentation, embargoed report, or proposal for this newsletter? Write to us at
.
Bookmark our site and support our journalism: Don't miss important business news – add financialpost.com to your bookmarks and subscribe to our newsletter Here
