Highlights – January 2025
Data visualization
Evolution of the key employment indicators over one year
Sources: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01, and Québec International.
Overview of employment in major Canadian regions
Analysis
Employment drop in Québec City
Data from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey (LFS) shows that employment in the Québec City CMA registered a drop of 1,200 jobs compared to December 2024 in the beginning of the year, bringing the total down to 471,600. However, the region continues to stand out with its low unemployment rate, ranking third among all CMAs in Canada, behind Saguenay (3.3%) and Victoria (3.6%), but first among the eight major Canadian regions.
The labour market indicators show that employment lost 0.3 pp, reaching 63.0%. The labour force also declined, losing 0.2% compared to the previous month, settling at 494,800 people. The employment rates for Canada and the province of Quebec both grew by 0.1 pp in January, reaching 61.0% and 61.4%, respectively.
Unemployment rate below 5%
The number of jobs declined in the region for the first time since September 2024. A lower drop in the labour force than in employment led to an increase in the unemployment rate, now set at 4.7% for the population as a whole. The unemployment rate among those aged 15 to 24 years old (9.7%, non-seasonally adjusted data) remained distinctly higher than in other age categories. Therefore, adolescents and young adults continue to experience the difficulties of an evolving labour market.
Asymmetric evolution across industries
From January 2024 to January 2025, non-seasonally adjusted data for employment reflect growth in the manufacturing, construction, and professional, scientific and technical services industries. Conversely, the accommodation and food services, and the information, culture and leisure industries registered the strongest declines.
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Since January 2025, the Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimations were revised to include data from the 2021 Census, which led to major regional adjustments.
- Change in the population base
Update based on the Census 2021 data, adjustments to births, deaths, and net migration. Larger impact after 2019, due in part to variations in the admissions of non-permanent residents (NPRs). - Changes in the geographical boundaries
Six new CMAs added, including Drummondville, Red Deer, and Fredericton. Updated census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and economic regions (ERs). - Industry and occupation classification update
Adoption of the NAICS and NOC 2021.
Effects on the Québec City CMA
- Addition of Saint-Apollinaire (pop. 7,968) to the CMA territory.
- Upward revisions to labour force and employment, with strong differences observed from 2022 onward.
- Limited impact on the participation, employment and unemployment rates.
Rosalie Forgues
Economist
Québec International
