Canadians Cut Job Switching to 0.41% in 2026 as Economic Uncertainty Fuels 'Job Hugging'
Updated
Updated · CBC Sports · Jun 6
Canadians Cut Job Switching to 0.41% in 2026 as Economic Uncertainty Fuels 'Job Hugging'
1 articles · Updated · CBC Sports · Jun 6
Summary
0.41% of Canadians switched from one job to another each month in 2026, down from 0.82% in January 2022, as more workers stay in roles they do not want to leave.
6.9% unemployment, slower hiring and weaker pay gains are driving that caution; Robert Half said workers no longer see job-hopping as a reliable route to higher salaries, with 56% of 1,388 respondents disagreeing.
Bank of Canada officials describe the market as a "low-hire, low-fire" environment, with uncertainty tied to U.S. tariffs and high oil prices making employers more selective and employees more reluctant to risk steady work.
Labour economists say the shift hands power back to employers, who are trimming perks and flexibility, and warn prolonged stagnation could make the economy less efficient by trapping workers in poorer job matches.
Is Canada's stagnant labour market creating a hidden productivity crisis for its economic future?
After May's surprise job surge, is the 'job hugging' trend already becoming a thing of the past?
With benefits disappearing, how are smart companies preventing their best employees from quietly quitting?
2026 Labour Market Crisis: Why Job Creation and Mobility Are Plummeting in Canada
Overview
In 2026, Canada’s labour market is facing an unprecedented slowdown, with job creation dropping sharply from nearly 34,000 jobs per month in 2024 to just 6,000 since early 2025. This has led to a noticeable decline in both the employment rate and the number of people participating in the workforce. Despite these changes, the unemployment rate has stayed relatively stable, mainly because fewer people are actively seeking work. The slowdown is driven by factors like slower growth in the working-age population and ongoing economic uncertainties, resulting in fewer opportunities and less movement within the job market.