A brand new ballot means that 40 per cent of Canadians are apprehensive about shedding their jobs as many companies cut back hiring plans in response to the trade war with the United States.
The Leger ballot, which sampled greater than 1,500 Canadian adults from March 7 to March 10, means that greater than half of staff in Ontario had been involved about job safety, the best within the nation, whereas just below one in 4 in Atlantic Canada mentioned they had been apprehensive.
Thirty-nine per cent of individuals in British Columbia and in Manitoba/Saskatchewan reported they’re apprehensive about shedding their jobs, in comparison with 35 per cent of individuals in Alberta and 26 per cent of individuals in Quebec.
As a result of the ballot was carried out on-line, it could actually’t be assigned a margin of error.
The ballot exhibits male respondents had been extra involved about unemployment than ladies, with 44 per cent of males apprehensive in contrast with 36 per cent of girls. Respondents between 18 and 54 had been extra apprehensive than these over the age of 55, at 42 per cent in contrast with 34 per cent.
The development line on Canadians’ job loss anxiousness has gone up and down in Leger polls for the reason that starting of the yr, starting with a low of 36 per cent within the week of Jan. 26 and hitting a excessive of 42 per cent within the week of Feb. 25.
The most recent Leger ballot says that whereas 61 per cent of respondents described their family’s funds as “good,” 46 per cent mentioned they’re dwelling paycheque to paycheque.
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Andrew Enns, government vice-president of Central Canada for Leger, mentioned widespread concern of unemployment is dangerous for the economic system as a result of that concern leads individuals to delay purchases.
Enns mentioned Ontario most likely polled the best degree of concern as a result of the latest provincial election concerned a whole lot of dire warnings from provincial politicians in regards to the seemingly influence of Trump’s tariffs on employment.
Enns mentioned that what stood out for him within the information was the rise within the variety of individuals saying they’re “very” involved about their jobs.
A Leger ballot carried out over the week of March 3 discovered 39 per cent of respondents had been involved about shedding their jobs, with 11 per cent of these individuals saying they had been “very” involved.
In the latest ballot, 15 per cent of the respondents who mentioned they had been involved about unemployment indicated they had been “very” involved about shedding their jobs.
Enns mentioned that if firms make important layoffs due to the tariffs, that would present up within the polling information within the coming weeks.
New Financial institution of Canada information means that 40 per cent of companies are scaling again their hiring and funding plans in response to heightened commerce uncertainty.
Markets have been in a tailspin since U.S. President Donald Trump started to place in place his large tariff agenda. On Wednesday, Trump’s administration hit all nations, together with Canada, with 25 per cent tariffs on metal and aluminum imports into the USA.
The Financial institution of Canada information, which is predicated on surveys of companies and customers carried out from Jan. 29 to Feb. 28, 2025, discovered that job safety considerations are extra frequent amongst individuals working in industries that depend on exports to the U.S.
Respondents to the Financial institution of Canada survey had been requested how they suppose their job safety can be affected if commerce relations between Canada and the U.S. had been to deteriorate.
Nearly three in 4 staff from the mining, oil and gasoline industries informed the Financial institution of Canada survey they had been apprehensive about their jobs, and three in 5 who work in manufacturing. Slightly below half of these in finance, insurance coverage, actual property and leasing, agriculture and forestry mentioned they had been involved.
Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, mentioned she has heard from staff who’re considering of promoting their houses and about “pockets of layoffs” occurring throughout the nation, together with at Algoma Metal in Sault Ste. Marie.
“Though the numbers to this point have been pretty small within the numerous completely different areas, employers have served unions discover that they’re apprehensive about what the longer term holds, and that layoffs could also be within the offing,” she mentioned. “Employers themselves are additionally unsure.”
Bruske mentioned it’s additionally troubling that some companies, primarily in manufacturing, aren’t getting as many orders as common from U.S. purchasers.
“Persons are very apprehensive about what their job actuality goes to be,” she mentioned, including that she expects to see extra layoffs if tariffs proceed.
The polling business’s skilled physique, the Canadian Analysis Insights Council, says on-line surveys can’t be assigned a margin of error as a result of they don’t randomly pattern the inhabitants.
— With information from Kelly Geraldine Malone.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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