Year-over-year growth in average hourly wages accelerates in March
Employment was little changed in March (+14,000; +0.1%) and the employment rate held steady at 60.6%. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7%. Average hourly wages among employees were up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis in March, the highest growth rate since October 2024 (not seasonally adjusted). Across age groups, year-over-year hourly wage growth in March 2026 was highest among employees aged 55 and older (+5.2%) and lowest among young employees aged 15 to 24 (+1.8%).
Source: Labour Force Survey, March 2026
Job mismatch remains more prevalent among recent immigrants
In September 2024 and September 2025, core-aged (25 to 54 years old) recent immigrants with a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree remained more likely than established immigrants and persons born in Canada to experience various forms of job mismatch. For instance, 22.5% of recent immigrants with postsecondary qualifications and less than five years of experience reported having more skills than needed for their job compared with 14.2% of their Canadian-born counterparts.
Source: Labour market experiences of recent immigrants, 2019 to 2025
Health behaviours and risks are evolving over time
One of the facets of well-being is the connection between health and health behaviours. An increasing trend toward lower consumption of alcohol may reflect broader shifts in physical health behaviours. In 2015, four in five (80%) adults aged 18 and older who drank alcohol in the previous year reported doing so at least once a month. This proportion fell to 73% in 2024, and the decline was mainly driven by people aged 18 to 34.
Source: Moving moments: Social progression in Canada over time
Wholesale trade revenue declines in 2024
The total operating revenue of Canadian merchant wholesalers declined 0.2%, from $1,489.6 billion in 2023 to $1,486.5 billion in 2024. Excluding petroleum products, total operating revenue decreased 0.3% compared with 2023. In 2024, merchant wholesalers in six provinces and two territories recorded lower total operating revenue compared with 2023. The largest declines were seen in Quebec (-1.1%), Saskatchewan (-3.7%), Alberta (-0.4%) and Ontario (-0.1%).
Source: Annual wholesale trade, 2024
Spring floods in Canada
A rapid snow melt or heavy rain on sodden frozen ground can lead to flooding in low-lying areas. In 2023, 4% of households, or approximately 673,600 households across Canada, reported that their homes were at a very high or moderately high risk of flooding. Meanwhile, just over two-thirds (68%) of Canadian households reported having little or no concern about flooding, ranging from 79% of households in Quebec to 61% of those in Manitoba.
Source: The dreaded spring flood
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).