In July, payroll employment in retail trade increased by 3,900 (+0.2%), offsetting the decrease in June (-2,600; -0.1%), according to a report released Thursday by Statistics Canada.
From February to July, payroll employment in this sector generally trended up, with an overall increase of 25,300 (+1.3%). Over this period, the increase in retail trade was led by clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers (+5,800; +2.9%), motor vehicle and parts dealers (+5,200; +2.3%), general merchandise retailers (+4,500; +1.7%) as well as food and beverage retailers (+3,500; +0.7%), said the federal agency.
Statistics Canada said payroll employment in accommodation and food services increased by 3,600 (+0.3%) in July, offsetting the decrease in June (-2,300; -0.2%).
In July, the monthly increase in this sector was led by special food services (+1,600; +2.1%)—which include food service contractors, caterers and mobile food services—and full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places (+1,000; +0.1%).
On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment in this sector was up by 7,700 (+0.6%) in July, said the report.
“Payroll employment in wholesale trade fell by 4,100 (-0.5%) in July following a decrease of 1,700 (-0.2%) in June. The decline in July was led by machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers (-1,700; -0.7%) and food, beverage and tobacco merchant wholesalers (-900; -0.8%),” added Statistics Canada.
“Compared with a peak recorded in August 2024, payroll employment in wholesale trade was down by 15,400 (-1.9%) in July 2026. Over this period, declines were led by machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers (-6,900; -2.9%), building material and supplies merchant wholesalers (-2,200; -1.5%) as well as personal and household goods merchant wholesalers (-1,800; -1.8%).”
Overall payroll employment rises across Canada
Overall in Canada, the report said the number of employees receiving pay and benefits from their employer—measured as “payroll employment” in the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours—was up by 26,100 (+0.1%) in July, following three consecutive increases from March to June, totalling 124,200 (+0.7%). On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment was up 171,900 (+0.9%) in July.
Meanwhile, there were 501,000 job vacancies in Canada in July, marking a seventh consecutive month of little variation. On a year-over-year basis, job vacancies were also little changed, it said.
“In July, payroll employment gains were recorded in 8 out of 20 sectors, led by retail trade (+3,900; +0.2%), accommodation and food services (+3,600; +0.3%), professional, scientific and technical services (+2,500; +0.2%) as well as real estate and rental and leasing (+2,300; +0.8%). These gains were partially offset by declines in public administration (-5,700; -0.4%) and wholesale trade (-4,100; -0.5%).”
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