The latest employment report for Canada shows that only 22,000 jobs were added in August, which is a mere 0.1% increase from July 2024. This is well below the expected 23,700 jobs. The weak job market is attributed to a loss of about 2,800 jobs in July, according to Statistics Canada.
With the unemployment rate rising by 0.2 percentage points to 6.6%, it seems newcomers in Canada might face challenges in finding jobs, as more people are competing for fewer job opportunities. This marks one of the highest unemployment rates since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notably, part-time jobs saw a net increase of 65,700, while the number of full-time jobs dropped by 43,600.
In addition, Canada may soon introduce a new regulation limiting international students to working a maximum of 24 hours a week. Currently, eligible full-time students are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week off-campus during their academic sessions, but the revised rule will extend this limit to 24 hours. It’s important to note that any violation of these work permit regulations could lead to serious consequences, including being asked to leave the country.
Earlier, Canada temporarily allowed students to work more than 20 hours a week, but this relaxed policy ended on April 30, 2024. The changes, designed to take effect later this year, will have a significant impact on international students studying in Canada.
