Québec, February 2025 - Job market snapshot

Get a snapshot of key facts about the state of Québec's labour market in the past month.

Against the backdrop of the high level of uncertainty related to U.S. tariff policies, employment growth in Quebec halted in February after six consecutive months of increases. Specifically, 3,400 jobs were lost compared to January (-0.1%). This net decline resulted from the loss of 9,000 full-time jobs, partially offset by the addition of 5,600 part-time jobs. The number of self-employed workers decreased by 10,500 (-2.0%), while a slight increase was noted for public sector employees (+5,700; +0.5%). The number of private sector employees remained stable compared to January. Only women saw a reduction in employment, with a loss of 4,300 jobs. The 15 to 24 age group (-3,300; -0.5%) and those aged 55 and over (-2,800; -0.3%) experienced small net job losses, while employment remained stable for those aged 25 to 54 (+2,800; +0.1%). The unemployment rate in Quebec decreased by 0.1 percentage points, reaching 5.3%, its lowest level since May 2024 (5.1%). This decline in the unemployment rate is explained by a larger decrease in the labour force (-10,200) compared to the job losses (-3,400). With several people withdrawing from the labour market, the participation rate decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 64.8%.

Québec's job market by the numbers

Working population

4,632,200

Down -0.1% since January

Unemployment rate

5.3%

Down -0.1 pts since January

Source: Statistics Canada - Table 14-10-0287-01 - Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months

Industries in focus

Wholesale and retail trade

Number of jobs increased 3.9%

January643,600

February668,500

In February 2025, the Wholesale and retail trade sector recorded a strong increase in employment, with a notable gain of 24,900 jobs (+3.9%). This second consecutive increase confirms a trend reversal that began in August 2024, with the sector shifting from a negative to a positive dynamic. Indeed, the first half of 2024 had been marked by recurring and significant job losses. Therefore, for the entire year of 2024, employment in this sector increased by only 9,000 jobs, a rise of 1.4%. It is possible that, in anticipation of the imposition of tariffs, employers in the wholesale trade subsector may have had to respond to increased demand from their American clients, who were advancing their purchases.

Transportation and warehousing

Number of jobs decreased -4.3%

January223,600

February213,900

The Transportation and warehousing sector experienced a significant decrease in employment in February, with a reduction of 9,700 jobs (-4.3%) compared to the previous month. This decline is part of a broader trend. In fact, employment in this sector has not been this low since October 2023. Compared to February 2024, the sector lost 14,700 jobs (-6.4%). Some announcements of closures and postponed investments by major employers may have contributed to the decline in employment, such as the closure of Amazon facilities and the closure of two docks at the Port of Trois-Rivières for renovation. The passenger air transport sector is also facing strong competition, leading to reorganizations and some job losses.

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Number of jobs decreased

February 2025, the Education services sector recorded strong employment growth, with an increase of 7,000 jobs (+1.9%) compared to the previous month. This monthly gain brought the total number of jobs in this sector to a historic high of 371,600 workers. Compared to February 2024, employment in Education services increased by 22,100 jobs (+6.3%), a significant growth that reflects the sector's positive dynamic and the labour shortage it is facing. As of December 2024, the Ministry of Education reported over 9,000 teachers who were not legally qualified in the province's public schools, a 3.5% increase compared to May 2024 and a 38% increase compared to May 2023. This number does not include the thousands of substitute teachers who also do not have teaching certification. Furthermore, the ministry states that it has invested more than 100 million dollars in recruitment and employee retention efforts.

Source: Statistics Canada - Table 14-10-0355-02 - Employment by industry, monthly, seasonally adjusted (x 1,000)

Unemployment rate by region

Abitibi-Témiscamingue
3.1%
Bas-Saint-Laurent
4.7%
Capitale-Nationale
4.5%
Centre-du-Québec
5.0%
Chaudière-Appalaches
2.6%
Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec
3.8%
Estrie
3.5%
Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
11.0%
Lanaudière
4.1%
Laurentides
3.6%
Laval
5.0%
Mauricie
5.4%
Montréal
8.1%
Montérégie
4.5%
Outaouais
5.4%
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
3.6%

The unemployment rate was lowest in Chaudière-Appalaches and highest in Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

Source: Statistics Canada - Table 14-10-0387-01 - Labour force characteristics, three-month moving average, unadjusted for seasonality, last 5 months

A closer look at some regions

Centre-du-Québec

121,900 people employed

Down -3.8% since December 2023

The Centre-du-Québec region recorded a decrease of 3,400 jobs in February 2025, representing a 2.6% decline. This job loss was accompanied by a significant increase in the unemployment rate by 2.5 percentage points, reaching 6.3%. The number of unemployed individuals rose by 3,500 people over the year. While the labour force remained almost unchanged, the working-age population continued to grow, leading to a drop in the participation rate by 1.2 percentage points, settling at 63.2%. The employment rate also fell by 2.7 percentage points, reaching 59.3%, which is lower than the provincial rate (61.4%). Centre-du-Québec is a highly manufacturing-oriented region, with a large proportion of jobs linked to exports to the United States. It is possible that the uncertainty caused by the threat of U.S. tariffs contributed to slowing the labour market in this region. What else is happening in this region?

Laurentides

367,900 people employed

Up 5.8% since December 2023

The labour market in the Laurentides region performed well in February 2025, with the creation of 17,100 jobs, representing an increase of 4.8% compared to February 2024. This increase allowed the unemployment rate to decrease by 0.4 percentage points, settling at 4.2%. The significant growth in the labour force, which added 16,400 people over the past 12 months (+4.4%), led to an increase in the participation rate by 1.6 percentage points, reaching 68.3%. The employment rate also gained 1.7 percentage points, reaching 65.4%, a figure that reflects the strength of the labour market in this region. The region benefits from the depreciation of the Canadian dollar, which boosts exports, especially in the aerospace sector. Additionally, statistics from the Tremblant region's tourist information office show a 12% year-on-year growth in January of American visitors from the states of New York, Florida, and Massachusetts. What else is happening in this region?

Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine

34,700 people employed

Up 8.8% since December 2023

The Gaspésie - Îles-de-la-Madeleine region experienced strong job growth in February 2025, recording an increase of 3,900 jobs (+12.4%), the highest percentage increase among all regions in Quebec. This performance led to a rise in the employment rate by 4.7 percentage points, now reaching 44.7%. However, at the same time, the number of unemployed individuals increased by 900, pushing the unemployment rate up by 0.7 percentage points to 13.7%. The labour force grew by 13.0%, or 4,700 more people, reaching a total of 40,900 individuals. As a result, the participation rate increased by 5.7 percentage points, rising to 51.8%. What else is happening in this region?

Last data refresh: 2025-03-23 06:36:54

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