Trucking, logistics employment dips as national job market strengthens

Employment and unemployment in Canada’s trucking and logistics sector edged down in November, even as the wider economy posted strong job gains, according to new data from Trucking HR Canada (THRC) and Statistics Canada.

THRC says the unemployment rate for the sector overall, and for truck drivers specifically, remains noticeably lower than the national rate. But the number of unemployed workers in the transport truck driver occupation has climbed.

“The number of unemployed workers in the transport truck driver occupation is up 14.2 per cent or 1,900 job seekers year-over-year,” said Craig Faucette, chief operating officer at THRC.

Nationally, Statistics Canada reported the economy added 58,000 jobs in November, mostly part-time positions, while the unemployment rate fell from 6.9 per cent in October to 6.5 per cent.

Within trucking and logistics, employment grew 0.4 per cent year-over-year, adding 2,800 jobs across the sector. However, employment among transport truck drivers fell three per cent, a loss of 10,500 driving positions compared to last November.

The unemployment rate in trucking and logistics declined to four per cent, down 0.2 percentage points year-over-year, while unemployment among truck drivers rose from 3.7 per cent last November to 4.4 per cent.

The figures reflect year-over-year changes from November 2024 to November 2025.