New data from Statistics Canada finds that the number of Canadians receiving pay and benefits from their employers increased by 22,100 (+0.1%) in September.

Meanwhile, the number of job vacancies reported across the country dropped by 40,700 (-6.1%) to 632,200 in September, continuing the steady downward trend from the peak of just over 1 million reached in May 2022.

Construction was among those industries to see more employment and fewer job vacancies.

Statistics Canada reports that payroll employment in construction edged up by 1,900 (+0.2%) in September, following a decline of 13,100 (-1.1%) in August.

The September increase was concentrated in construction of buildings (+1,600; +0.5%) and heavy and civil engineering construction (+1,400; +0.8%), but was tempered by a drop in specialty trade contractors (-1,100; -0.2%).

In September, payroll employment in construction was down by 11,200 from July and virtually unchanged from April.

Meanwhile, the number of job vacancies reported in construction dropped by 10,800 (-17.3%) to 51,700 in September, following little change in July and August.

The sector’s job vacancy rate was 4.2% in September, down from 5.0% in June, July and August. The drop in the job vacancy rate in construction since June reflected lower job vacancies (-9,500; -15.6%), as payroll employment showed little change over the period.