Canada's Payrolls Edge Higher in July as Job Vacancies Stable and Wage Growth Decelerates

09:40 AM EDT, 09/24/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Canadian payroll employment, measured in the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours (SEPH), rose by 26,100, or 0.1% monthly, in July, following gains of 124,200 from March through June, Statistics Canada said Thursday. Year over year, payroll employment increased by 171,900, or 0.9%, StatsCan saiid ina statement. Payroll employment gains were led by retail trade, accommodation and food services, and professional, scientific and technical services, partly offset by declines in public administration and wholesale trade, said StatsCan. Job vacancies remained broadly unchanged at 501,000 for a seventh consecutive month, with the vacancy rate holding at 2.8%, the agency added. Average weekly earnings rose 3.2% year over year to CA$1,347, lower than the 3.4% increase posted in June, while average weekly hours were little changed month over month and up 0.3% year over year.