Hiring challenges for trucking and logistics employers continue to ease in 2025
OTTAWA, ON (August 12, 2025) — According to new data from Trucking HR Canada (THRC), the hiring frenzy experienced in the trucking and logistics industry in 2022 and 2023 continues to let up in 2025 due to decreased demand for workers and increased supply of job seekers.
| Quarter | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Q1 2024 | 12,155 |
| Q2 2024 | 12,490 |
| Q3 2024 | 10,010 |
| Q4 2024 | 8,630 |
| Q1 2025 | 9,310 |
| Source: THRC and Statistics Canada, Table: 14-10-0442-01, June 2025 |
Second quarter employment showed little change compared to the same period last year: a decrease of 0.2% in the industry overall, and 1.1%, among transport truck drivers. However, 11,600 more people were looking for work in the sector compared to Q2 2024, including an additional 2,800
transport truck drivers. Job openings data for the first quarter of the year show a decline in the number of positions that employers are actively recruiting.
| Quarter | Trucking & logistics | Transport truck drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2024 | 35.1 | 15.8 |
| Q3 2024 | 34.1 | 13.7 |
| Q4 2024 | 31.3 | 14.1 |
| Q1 2025 | 44.6 | 22.5 |
| Q2 2025 | 46.7 | 18.6 |
| Source: THRC, Statistics Canada custom LFS data request, June 2025 |
“For employers this potentially means there is a greater pool of workers to recruit from,” says Craig Faucette, Chief Program Officer, Trucking HR Canada. “This provides employers with an opportunity to build their workforces with the skilled workers needed to drive business growth”.
Details:
- Employment across the trucking and logistics sector in Q2 2025 was stable, just 0.2% lower than in Q2 2024, and increased in Q2 compared to Q1.
- Employment of drivers was 1.1% lower compared to Q2 2024, but increased by 6,500 compared to Q1.
- The unemployment rate (proportion of all workers who are currently seeking jobs) across the sector rose from 4.3% in Q2 2024 to 5.7% in Q2 2025, and from 4.5% to 5.3% for transport truck drivers.
- The proportion of all jobs in the truck transportation sector for which employers are currently recruiting fell from 5.3% in Q1 2024 to 4.1% in Q1 2025 and from 4.6% to 3.5% for transport truck drivers.
- Transport truck driver job openings dropped by 3,680 positions, a decline of 24% over Q1 2024.
- This data indicates that the need to recruit for open job postings in truck transportation and, specifically for transport truck drivers remains higher than the average rate of 2.8% across all industries/occupations in Canada.
THRC is the most trusted source of workforce data for trucking and logistics: One of Trucking HR Canada’s top strategic priorities is to help employers address their labour force needs by providing relevant, accurate, and accessible labour market information. Our data offers the most complete overview of the entire scope of the trucking and logistics sector and includes in-depth analysis by economists, experts who understand the trucking and logistics sector.
Check our full archive of Labour Market Information data.
Trucking HR Canada is the recognized national authority on workforce strategy for the trucking and logistics sector. We’re a non-profit centre of excellence, engaging with employers, governments, think tanks, industry groups, and stakeholders.
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