Activity in the manufacturing sector increases in May after contracting in April
Real gross domestic product edged down 0.1% in May for the second consecutive month, as goods-producing industries declined while services-producing industries were essentially unchanged. The manufacturing sector grew 0.7% in May, partially offsetting April's 1.8% decline, as higher inventory accumulation largely contributed to the growth. This was the third increase for the sector in five months, with increases recorded in both durable and non-durable goods manufacturing in May.
Source: Gross domestic product by industry, May 2025
Job vacancies decrease in May
Payroll employment increased by 15,300 (+0.1%) in May, after edging up 14,600 (+0.1%) in April. On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment was up 43,300 (+0.2%) in May. Meanwhile, job vacancies in Canada fell by 20,400 (-4.1%) to 478,200 in May, extending the decline recorded in April (-17,400; -3.4%). This was the lowest level of job vacancies recorded since October 2017 (459,800). On a year-over-year basis, job vacancies were down by 89,700 (-15.8%) in May 2025.
Source: Payroll employment, earnings and hours, and job vacancies, May 2025
About two-thirds of Canadians wait less than three months for an initial consultation with a medical specialist
According to the new Survey on Health Care Access and Experiences — Primary and Specialist Care 2024, just over one-third (35%) of Canadians aged 18 and older living in the provinces, or 10.8 million people, reported consulting a medical specialist for an initial consultation in the 12 months prior to the survey. Among these individuals, 35% reported a wait time of less than a month, while 30% waited from one to less than three months and 36% waited three months or more. The proportion of Canadians who waited less than three months to see a medical specialist in the 12 months prior to the survey ranged from 68% in Quebec to 56% in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Source: Wait times to see a medical specialist in Canada, 2024
Universities receive higher provincial funding in 2023/2024
In 2023/2024, the total revenue of Canadian universities increased by $3.5 billion to reach $52.4 billion. Provincial funding accounted for just under one-third (32.4%) of total university revenue. Provincial contributions grew by 2.3% to $17.0 billion, marking the largest annual increase since 2010/2011. In 2023/2024, universities in British Columbia (+12.5%) reported having the largest increase, while those in Nova Scotia (-20.0%) had the largest decrease.
Source: University revenues increase more than expenditures in 2023/2024
Jobs attributable to tourism demand in 2024 nearly eclipse pre-COVID-19 pandemic level
In 2024, tourism activities generated $104.4 billion in revenues (inflation-adjusted), distributed over a wide range of services provided in communities of all sizes across Canada. Both domestic and international visitor spending supported 702,700 tourism jobs across various industries in 2024, slightly below the high of 704,100 jobs from 2019. There were over 265,800 businesses in tourism industries in 2024, and these businesses supported 1 in 10 workers in the Canadian workforce.
Source: Tourism among the fastest growing sectors in 2024, setting the stage for 2025
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