Focus on Canada and the United States: Labour

United States tariffs and Canadian labour market trends

Insights on Canadian Society

Using data from the Labour Force Survey and the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours, this study examines the impacts of tariff-related trade uncertainty on the Canadian labour market. The characteristics of jobs and workers most vulnerable to U.S. tariffs are explored. Impacts on employment in industries dependent on U.S. demand for Canadian exports, as well as Canadian regions with a higher share of jobs in industries dependent on U.S. demand, are also examined. In addition, this study uses adjusted concepts to compare the unemployment rates in Canada and the United States.

Analytical product

The impact of layoffs on labour market outcomes of workers in industries dependent on United States demand for Canadian exports

Economic and Social Reports

Recently imposed tariffs on Canadian exports by the United States could reduce U.S. demand for Canadian products and, consequently, potentially lead to job losses in industries dependent on U.S. demand for Canadian exports. Although it is too early to know how workers in industries dependent on U.S. demand for Canadian exports might adapt to potential job losses, the purpose of this article is to examine historical patterns of their post-displacement labour market outcomes, which could yield valuable insights.

Analytical product

Retention of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science graduates in Canada

Economic and Social Reports

The popularity of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science (STEM) fields in Canadian postsecondary education and the number of STEM graduates have grown among both Canadian and international students. It is unknown how many STEM graduates stay and contribute to the Canadian labour market. This study aims to examine STEM graduates’ retention in Canada after completing Canadian postsecondary programs.

Analytical product

Socioeconomic characteristics of workers in industries dependent on United States demand for Canadian exports

Economic and Social Reports

Recent trade tensions between the United States (U.S.) and Canada have raised questions around the impact of potential job losses related to tariffs. A recent article revealed that, in general, jobs in industries dependent on U.S. demand for Canadian exports (IDUSCEXs) are well-paying and have many favourable non-wage job characteristics, but not all industries within the broader IDUSCEX grouping ranked relatively high in these measures. The current article follows up this work by investigating the socioeconomic characteristics of workers employed in IDUSCEXs, which could play a key role in how affected workers might adapt to potential job losses.

Analytical product

Recent trends in immigration from Canada to the United States

Economic and Social Reports

The flow of migrants across international borders is a critical factor shaping national economies, innovation capacity, and societal development in the 21st century. For neighbouring countries with deeply integrated economies like Canada and the United States, the movement of people, particularly skilled workers, holds profound significance. This article compares trends in annual permanent migration flows between Canada and the United States since the 1990s.

Analytical product

Impact of tariffs on businesses in Canada: Expectations and strategic responses, second quarter of 2025

Analysis in Brief

Amid shifts in tariffs, trade regulations and the U.S. administration, the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, conducted from April 1 to May 5, 2025, incorporated a series of targeted questions to gauge the sentiment, expectations and strategic responses of businesses across Canada. This paper provides an overview of the survey findings, examining the anticipated impacts on sales, business uncertainty and selling prices, as well as the array of mitigation strategies businesses have adopted to navigate the evolving economic landscape.

Analytical product

Job quality in industries dependent on United States demand for Canadian exports

Economic and Social Reports

While it is challenging to estimate the number of job losses that may be associated with U.S. tariffs, it is possible to describe the quality of jobs at risk of being affected by a decline in U.S. demand for Canadian products. This article addresses this issue by examining a multitude of job quality measures in industries dependent on U.S. demand for Canadian exports.

Analytical product

Recent developments in the Canadian economy: Spring 2025

Economic and Social Reports

This article provides an integrated summary of recent economic developments, highlighting changes in the economic data during late 2024 and early 2025. The article focuses on how economic conditions have changed as households and businesses adjust to ongoing uncertainty over Canada's trading relationship with the United States.

Analytical product

Labour Force Survey, April 2025

The Daily

By adjusting Canadian data to US concepts, direct comparisons can be made between the labour market situations in Canada and the United States.

Analytical product

Unit labour cost growth, inflation and productivity growth in Canada and the United State

Economic and Social Reports

The unit labour cost (ULC) is often used as a broad measure of international price competitiveness. It deviates from the inflation rate when the real wage rate and labour productivity grow at different paces. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada has experienced an acceleration of unit labour cost growth and a significant upward deviation from the inflation rate, while this has not happened in the United States. This article explores the sources of the Canada–U.S. ULC growth gap and the factors contributing to its widening.

Analytical product

Recent trends in United States temporary foreign workers in Canada

Economic and Social Reports

The movement of temporary foreign workers between the United States and Canada represents a critical yet understudied aspect of North American labour mobility. This article examines recent trends in the number of temporary foreign workers from the U.S. to Canada, their employment patterns, industrial distribution and earnings.

Analytical product

Labour Force Survey, January 2025

The Daily

Check out the section "In the spotlight: The manufacturing sector, which has dependencies on US demand for Canadian exports, accounts for 8.9% of total employment in Canada."

Analytical product

Labour Force Survey, December 2024

The Daily

Check out the section "In the spotlight: In 2024, 8.8% of workers were in industries that were dependent on US demand for Canadian exports."

Analytical product

Employment growth in Canada and the United States during the recovery from COVID-19

Economic and Social Reports

This paper examines the differences between the Canadian and the United States labour markets post-COVID-19 lockdown by comparing the employment recovery of the various industries, the labour force participation rates, and labour churn.

Analytical product