‘This decline is catching up with the trend in overall Canadian job postings’
Summer-related job postings in Canada have declined this year compared to recent years, according to a report from Indeed.
Job listings containing the word “summer” (or “été”) in their title were down 22% as of May 9, signalling a softer hiring season ahead.
“This decline is catching up with the trend in overall Canadian job postings, as seasonal demand held up relatively well in 2024, but is now down similarly as the overall market since 2023,” said Brendon Bernard, senior economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab. “Summer job postings typically peak in the mid-April to mid-May period, suggesting a soft season for hiring ahead as students go on break.”
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Indeed notes that among the hardest-hit roles are summer camp jobs, which have traditionally represented the largest single category of seasonal postings.
In early May 2025, camp-related listings—including counsellors, managers, and leads—were down 32% from the same period last year. This marks a return to pre-pandemic levels after elevated demand between 2022 and 2024.
Demand has also decreased across other seasonal sectors. Postings for summer painters, labourers, lifeguards, and customer service representatives have all dropped, with the retail and recreation sectors particularly showing subdued hiring activity.
McDonald’s Canada is hiring approximately 20,000 workers to manage the anticipated summer rush.
The drop in seasonal hiring comes amid persistent challenges in youth employment, according to Indeed. In July 2024, the number of 15-to-24-year-olds employed matched the same period in 2023. However, their employment rate declined, as job growth did not keep pace with a 7.2% increase in their population.
The outlook for summer 2025 remains pessimistic, says Bernard.
“There’s little sign of a turnaround going into this summer. Summer job postings are down compared to last May, and while youth population growth has slowed, it was still up 3.7% from a year ago, according to the April Labour Force Survey. With other risks to the Canadian labour market looming, there are few signs of near-term turnaround amid what’s already a troubled job market for youth.”
Recently, Prince Edward Island urged employers across the province to take advantage of government-funded programs to hire students for summer employment.
