Canada’s private sector is continuing to experience historically high job vacancies.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business latest Help Wanted Report shows that roughly 433,000 private-sector jobs went unfulfilled this past quarter, which is about 1,500 more than the second quarter this year, and 15,000 more than this time last year.

“This is now the fifth consecutive quarter in which we’re seeing a record high vacancy rate,” said Ted Mallett, CFIB’s chief economist, in a statement. “The smallest of firms, those with fewer than five employees, are having the hardest time recruiting workers, with a vacancy rate as high [as] 5.4 per cent.”

Job vacancies by province

Quebec, once again, had the tightest labour market in the country at a 4 per cent vacancy rate. British Columbia also held its position, maintaining an above-average vacancy rate of 3.8 per cent. Ontario remained at the national average of 3.2 per cent.

Vacancy rates in the Prairies and in Newfoundland and Labrador went up slightly, though they still remain under the national average.

Canada’s other provinces did not see any changes between the second and third quarter of 2019.

#casansaar (Source - CIC News)