Canada's Job Market Stalls as Unfilled Roles and Lengthy Hiring Processes Rise — Express Employment International

Event summary

32% of Canadian hiring managers report unfilled positions, up from 29% in fall 2025.
28% of hiring managers say hiring timelines have increased compared to two years ago.
17% of open positions are closed without a hire, with 21% going unfilled entirely.
35% of job seekers struggle with automated hiring processes that lack human interaction.

The big picture

Canada's labor market is facing growing inefficiencies, with a rising number of unfilled roles and extended hiring timelines. The disconnect between employer needs and candidate experiences highlights broader challenges in workforce management, particularly as companies struggle to balance speed, quality, and fit in their recruitment processes.

What we're watching

Hiring Efficiency: Whether companies can balance automation with human interaction to improve hiring outcomes.
Labor Market Dynamics: How prolonged hiring delays will impact business operations and economic growth.
Candidate Experience: The pace at which employers adapt their processes to better address job seeker frustrations.