Is this the worst job market in 30 years?
I’ve been in the workforce for a while now, and honestly… this feels like the worst job market I’ve seen in Canada in over 20 years.
Even during the 2008–2010 slowdown, I don’t remember things feeling this bad across so many sectors at once.
Since around 2024, it feels like:
tech jobs have dried up or moved elsewhere
companies are scaling back hiring or leaving Canada entirely
entry-level roles are insanely competitive
even experienced professionals are struggling to find work in their own field
From where I’m sitting, it feels like Canada is stuck in a cycle of:
exporting raw resources gold, diamonds, copper and aluminum instead of building stronger industries
importing finished goods at triple the cost from USA, Asia and Europe
relying heavily on housing/construction /TFWs or economic growth
At the same time:
housing costs keep rising
food prices are still high
white-collar roles seem to be shrinking
AI/automation discussions are happening, but I don’t see much real planning for the impact on workers
I work in supply chain/telecom operations and even there the market feels far tighter than it used to.
I’m genuinely asking:
Are there industries in Canada right now that are actually doing well and hiring consistently?
Or is this just the new normal for the Canadian economy?
Would like to hear perspectives from people across different industries/provinces.