Trucking and logistics saw the fourth straight month with a year-over-year drop in employment, according to new data shared by Trucking HRCanada.
The number of drivers actively seeking work in April 2026 declined by 900 people compared to April 2025, which indicates the total supply of drivers is shrinking.
In April 2026, employment in Canadian trucking and logistics dipped slightly by 1,800 jobs year-over-year, with unemployment rates dropping from 6.0% in April 2025 to 5.5% this year.
“We’re seeing a drop in supply of experienced drivers — those who are employed and unemployed — since this time last year,” says Craig Faucette, Chief Operating Officer, Trucking HR Canada. “This points to the importance of employers continuing to focus on retention and training, as well as workforce development strategies to maintain capacity.”
Further, there were 4,400 fewer workers actively looking for employment in our sector in April 2026 than in April 2025, a drop of 9.2% year-over-year. For transport truck drivers, employment fell by 7.3% in April 2026 compared to April 2025 (down 23,600 positions) while the unemployment rate rose from 6.4% to 6.7%.
Across Canada’s labour market in general, employment edged up slightly (0.3%) when compared to April 2025. The average unemployment rate sat at 6.9% in April 2026, unchanged from April 2025.
