OTTAWA, ON (August 18, 2026) — New data from Trucking HR Canada (THRC) shows employment in the trucking and logistics sector rose to 825,400 in July 2026 up 4.0% year-over-year, adding almost 32,000 jobs compared to July 2025. On a monthly basis, the sector’s employment rose by 5.9% in July, compared to June.
According to Statistics Canada data, the sector added 12,500 additional transport truck drivers in July 2026 on a year-over-year basis, with total employment of drivers reaching 344,100 across Canada. This is a 4.4% increase over the level of truck driver employment in June 2026.
“Employment increased while the number of people seeking work declined, leaving employers with a smaller pool of available workers,” says Craig Faucette, Chief Operating Officer, THRC. “These conditions underscore the importance of workforce planning, recruitment and retention.”
Across the trucking and logistics sector the number of active job seekers has declined by 17.9%, with 7,000 fewer workers seeking employment in July 2026 than in July 2025. The steep year-over-year decline in unemployment is reflected in a full 1% decrease in the unemployment rate from 4.7% in July 2025 to 3.7% in July 2026.
There were 1,400 fewer transport truck drivers looking for work in July of 2026 compared to July 2025, with the unemployment rate falling from 4.8% to 4.3% year-over-year.
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Trucking HR Canada (THRC) is the national, non-profit workforce development organization for Canada’s trucking and logistics sector. Established in 2012, THRC is the recognized authority on workforce strategy for the industry, providing labour market intelligence, workforce research, skills development initiatives, occupational standards, training resources and evidence-based human resource solutions.
Working closely with employers, industry associations, governments, educators and workforce stakeholders, THRC supports a sector that employs nearly 800,000 Canadians and plays a critical role in Canada’s supply chain.
Media contact: comms@truckinghr.com
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