Job Losses in Canada’s Trucking and Logistics Sector
In the first quarter of 2025, Canada’s trucking and logistics industry saw a decline of 25,000 jobs compared to the same timeframe last year. Notably, there were no job losses among truck drivers, as reported in the latest labor market overview from Trucking HR Canada.
Historic Job Losses, Yet No Impact on Truck Drivers
Craig Faucette, the chief program officer at Trucking HR Canada (THRC), remarked on the significance of this development. He noted that while such job losses are not unusual—previously, the sector lost 26,800 jobs in Q1 2021 and a staggering 68,200 in Q1 2023—this marks the first instance where truck driver roles remain unaffected by overall employment declines.
Impacted Occupations
The bulk of job reductions occurred in other areas within the industry. There was a 17% decrease in management, administration, finance, and HR positions, which translated to a loss of 16,400 jobs. Additionally, shippers and receivers faced a 6.7% decline equaling 6,900 jobs, while courier and delivery driver jobs fell by 3%, impacting 3,600 workers.
Increase in Truck Driver Employment
On a different note, employment for transport truck drivers actually rose by 1.5%, contributing an additional 4,800 jobs compared to Q1 2024.
Stable Unemployment Rates
Despite these fluctuations, the overall unemployment rate within the trucking sector remained relatively stable. Unemployed workers across the industry dropped by 22,100, although the number of unemployed truck drivers saw a slight increase of 1.6%, adding 5,500 individuals to that figure.
Labor Pool Dynamics
The simultaneous decrease in employment coupled with a drop in overall unemployment indicates a shrinking labor pool, according to THRC’s news release. This change may reflect workers moving out of the labor market or transitioning to different sectors. Conversely, in the case of truck drivers, both employment and unemployment saw an uptick, which points to a growing labor supply.
