In February, payroll employment in retail trade fell by 5,900 (-0.3%), following a decline of 7,000 (-0.4%) in January and an increase of 4,700 (+0.2%) in December 2025, according to a report released by Statistics Canada on Thursday.
On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment in retail trade was down by 26,400 (-1.3%) in February 2026. The year-over-year decline in February was broad-based, with the largest losses being recorded in clothing and clothing accessories retailers (-9,500; -5.6%), grocery and convenience retailers (-5,900; -1.4%), department stores (-5,800; -5.9%) as well as building material and supplies dealers (-3,200; -2.3%), said the federal agency.
Over the same period, payroll employment in warehouse clubs, supercentres and other general merchandise retailers was up 5,100 (+3.2%) despite widespread year-over-year declines, it said.
“Payroll employment in accommodation and food services decreased by 4,100 (-0.3%) in February, more than offsetting the gain recorded in January (+3,100; +0.2%). The monthly decline in February was led by full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places (-3,600; -0.4%) and special food services (-1,400; -1.8%),” added Statistics Canada.
“On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment in accommodation and food services was up slightly (+1,200; +0.1%) in February.”
The report said the overall number of employees in Canada receiving pay and benefits from their employer—measured as “payroll employment” in the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours—decreased by 60,200 (-0.3%) in February, following an increase of 44,300 (+0.2%) in January. On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment was virtually unchanged in February.
In February, monthly payroll employment declines were led by transportation and warehousing (-14,000; -1.6%), administrative and support services (-7,500; -0.9%), retail trade (-5,900; -0.3%), construction (-4,200; -0.3%) and accommodation and food services (-4,100; -0.3%), it said.
Meanwhile, the number of job vacancies was little changed, at 497,200 in February. On a year-over-year basis, job vacancies were down by 29,000 (-5.5%), it added.
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