A new report released by Trucking HR Canada (THRC) shows truck driver vacancies declined by 33 percent in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023.
THRC’s National Job Vacancy Update Q1 2024 shows positive progress on total employment in the trucking and logistics sector, the unemployment rate, and labour market tightness.
“Currently labour market pressures are easing, but we need to keep supporting the sector with targeted resources and programs to respond to anticipated long-term labour challenges,” says Craig Faucette, Chief Program Officer, Trucking HR Canada. “Our labour market forecast for the road ahead to 2030 confirms that labour demand will continue to significantly outpace supply and we could see 40,400 vacancies in our sector.”
More highlights from THRC’s National Job Vacancy Update for Q1 2024:
- The number of truck driver vacancies across Canada, is 15,460 — 7,785 fewer than the first quarter of 2023. Employment of drivers grew by 11.6%, with the addition of 32,600 more drivers employed in Q1 2024, compared to Q1 2023.
- In Canada’s “core” trucking and logistics industries, vacancies declined by 36% to just over 10,000 compared to Q1 2023. Employment growth was up 9% in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023, an increase of over 50,000 new employees.
- The unemployment rate for drivers is up year-over-year in Q1 2024 with an additional 3,400 truck drivers actively seeking work compared to Q1 2023.
- The core trucking and logistics sector also saw a jump in the unemployment rate, increasing from 3.8% in Q1 2023 to 4.8% in Q1 2024.