80 per cent of all vacancies were for permanent positions, says Statistics Canada

The number of job vacancies in Canada rose again in the first three months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, with increases reported in six provinces and the territory of Nunavut.

Job vacancies in the first quarter of 2019 hit 506,000, an increase of 44,000 over the same period in 2018, making it the tenth consecutive quarter to post a year-over-year increase in both the number of job vacancies and the job vacancy rate.

Statistics Canada said nearly 80 per cent of the openings were for permanent positions.

Employers across Canada are facing labour shortages linked to the country’s ageing population and the rising number of Canadians who are reaching retirement age.

A key component of the federal government’s response to this challenge is the decision to raise immigration levels over the next three years, with a majority of newcomers expected through economic-class immigration programs.