A data briefing released on 12 February 2026 by immigration consultancy Immigration.ca parses the latest Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey and finds an economy "stable but uneven"—a message with direct implications for global mobility programs.(immigration.ca)
While overall employment held steady in December 2025, unemployment ticked up because more people—particularly recent immigrants—entered the job market. Wage growth remains positive, yet disparities persist by age and sector; youth unemployment is rising, but healthcare and advanced manufacturing continue to add positions.
For organizations planning cross-border moves, platforms like VisaHQ can simplify the visa paperwork for both assignees and accompanying family members, offering real-time status updates and guidance on required documents. Their Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) aggregates the latest forms and processing times, helping mobility teams stay compliant while focusing on hiring strategy.
![Labour-force snapshot highlights mixed outlook for newcomers as unemployment edges higher]()
For employers, the report suggests that competition for talent is intensifying even as hiring appetite cools. Mobility managers may need to bolster settlement support to help spouses find work and to navigate credential recognition in slower-growing sectors. The briefing also warns that higher job-search times could lengthen the break-even point on costly international relocations.
On the policy front, economists quoted in the analysis argue that finely tuned immigration—geared to regional vacancies and credentialled newcomers—remains crucial to preventing structural labour shortages as Canada’s population ages. They urge provinces to align nominee-program targets with real-time labour-market data and to expand bridging programmes for internationally trained professionals.
Companies should revisit relocation ROI assumptions and consider staggered arrival schedules or hybrid arrangements until economic signals firm up.
While overall employment held steady in December 2025, unemployment ticked up because more people—particularly recent immigrants—entered the job market. Wage growth remains positive, yet disparities persist by age and sector; youth unemployment is rising, but healthcare and advanced manufacturing continue to add positions.
For organizations planning cross-border moves, platforms like VisaHQ can simplify the visa paperwork for both assignees and accompanying family members, offering real-time status updates and guidance on required documents. Their Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) aggregates the latest forms and processing times, helping mobility teams stay compliant while focusing on hiring strategy.
For employers, the report suggests that competition for talent is intensifying even as hiring appetite cools. Mobility managers may need to bolster settlement support to help spouses find work and to navigate credential recognition in slower-growing sectors. The briefing also warns that higher job-search times could lengthen the break-even point on costly international relocations.
On the policy front, economists quoted in the analysis argue that finely tuned immigration—geared to regional vacancies and credentialled newcomers—remains crucial to preventing structural labour shortages as Canada’s population ages. They urge provinces to align nominee-program targets with real-time labour-market data and to expand bridging programmes for internationally trained professionals.
Companies should revisit relocation ROI assumptions and consider staggered arrival schedules or hybrid arrangements until economic signals firm up.
