‘Canada getting cooked’: Internet reacts as economy loses 68,000 jobs in September

Social media users are reacting after Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September, bringing its unemployment rate to 6.5 per cent. 

The new unemployment numbers were unveiled by Statistics Canada on Friday. According to the report, the 68,000 job losses brought employment down by 0.2 per cent, and the unemployment rate up by 0.1 per cent to a total of 6.5 per cent.

This is the second consecutive month of employment decline in Canada, after the country lost 42,000 jobs in August, when the unemployment rate was 6.4 per cent. The decline came after unemployment had been decreasing between April and July. During that period 181,000 jobs were added, and employment grew by 0.9 per cent. 

Unemployment seems to be mostly affecting youth, as employment among those aged 15 to 24 fell by 48,000 or 1.8 per cent. Women aged 25 to 54 were also among the mainly affected group, with employment falling by 28,000 or 0.4 per cent. 

On the other hand, unemployment is still lower than a year ago. Compared to last September, employment was up by 95,000 or 0.5 per cent. 

Reactions

Social media users are reacting to the rising unemployment rate, with many expressing hopelessness about the current economic situation of the country. 

“Employers are saying they can’t find anyone to fill jobs. Here are 68,000 options,” one person said on Reddit. 

“Canada [is] getting cooked,” another added. 

“What’s a shame is the youth that can’t get a minimum wage job to learn basic life skills like communicating, managing finances etc.,” another person said. 

Others suggested the trade war with the U.S., global economic shifts, and the rise of technology like AI could be behind the decline. 

“I don’t think the economy is healthy by any means, but I also think job numbers alone are becoming a weaker signal. As someone in management, I’m already seeing AI tools change how much one person can handle in many types of work, and it’s hitting entry-level and co-op roles first,” one person wrote. 

“Trade war with the USA, who were basically a vassal state under pre-Carney, and a global recession will do that,” another one said. 

Ontario’s unemployment rate remains at 7%

The unemployment rate in Ontario remained above the national average at seven per cent, with the province losing about 20,000 jobs in September. 

However, the unemployment rate was still higher than last year at this time, with employment up by 86,000 compared to last year at this time. 

Ontario small businesses refraining from hiring for the holiday season

The arrival of fall usually means the rise of temporary and seasonal employment, as many businesses look to hire help for the busy holiday season. But this time, many employers in Ontario seem to be reluctant to hire. 

According to a study by Merchant Growth, only four per cent of Ontario small businesses are planning to hire in the next six months. 

This comes as many businesses report feeling the impact of U.S. tariffs, with 11 per cent saying they have already reduced staff or hours earlier this year.

“Heading into Thanksgiving and the holiday season, you would hope to see small businesses in a position to bring on more staff. Instead, many are still holding back on hiring, while others have already had to reduce staff or hours. That puts both sides in a difficult position as Canadians,” Merchant Growth’s Chief Growth Officer Hash Aboulhosn said in a statement shared with Now Toronto. 

Buying Canadian helps but doesn’t make astounding difference

According to the study, 41 per cent of Ontario small businesses say weak consumer spending is part of the biggest pressure on their business. 

Meanwhile, 75 per cent of Ontario consumers responding to the study said supporting Canadian products is a good reason to shop at small businesses. Still, 71 per cent of Ontario business owners said the Buy Canadian movement has not made a very significant impact on their finances. 

“Where Canadians choose to eat and shop this Thanksgiving and over the holidays won’t transform the labour market overnight, but local jobs ultimately depend on local businesses having customers,” Aboulhosn said.

“Sustained demand, access to capital, and stability in operating costs would give an owner the confidence to keep people on payroll, invest in the business and eventually add another employee.”