The number of job opportunities for Canadians is declining, and on Wednesday, over 600 people lined up for a job fair in Ottawa. At the Holiday Inn & Suites hotel in Kanata, the Kanata Central BIA Job Fair drew-in hundreds of eager candidates hoping to land an opening. “I have experience in administration and program coordination, along with some experience in project management. So, I am looking for a job that kind of aligns with that. I have experience in many different sectors,” says candidate Mirani Kannangara. “I got laid off, back in October of 2025, and I’ve been looking for a job since. I have a lot of hope and it’s been looking good.” From banking to hospitality, IT and retirement homes, 21 companies participated in the fair. “Currently, we are looking for dental hygienists, dental assistants, and front desk administrators,” says Lisa Leduc with Yazdani Family Dentistry. “It’s a great opportunity for us to get some exposure, but also to meet a lot of lovely people and hopefully hire for our positions. It gives us an opportunity to have that personalized conversation, get to know them and it’s kind of an interview before the interview.” The latest data from Statistics Canada shows the national capital region’s unemployment rate is hovering near seven per cent, while job vacancy rates have dropped below three per cent, a multi-year low. Canada’s overall unemployment rate fell to 6.5 per cent in January 2026, down from about 6.8 per cent in December 2025, marking the lowest level since late 2024. The decline is largely driven by fewer people looking for work. Amongst Canadian youth (aged 15 to 24), the unemployment rate was 12.8 per cent, down from 13.3 per cent the previous month and well below a recent high of 14.6 per cent in September 2025, though it remains much higher than the national average. Patti Perry, executive director of the Kanata Central BIA, says the bi-annual job fair drew in more than 600 people looking for a new opportunity. “The event is two-fold, for the businesses who are here as employers, it’s an opportunity to, in a very short period of time, meet several candidates for any positions that they’re hiring,” says Perry. “It makes it more efficient for them, and for job seekers, it’s a great spot to get out and meet several employers at the same time.” Youth and first-time job seekers find options High school student Aaron Malik is looking for his first summer job, and Canadian Property stars may be the right fit. “It [Canadian Property Stars] focuses on the physical aspects, which I think I’m pretty good at,” he says. “I prefer this kind of job. There’s a lot of options and opportunities for me.” Gregg Ross, with Canadian Property Stars, a property enhancing service, says the company is hiring for a variety of positions. “We’re looking for a combination of everything. We have part-time available. We have full-time available starting in April. We are always looking for management as well, which is a salaried position with benefits. We have a lot of availability here in Ottawa, and we’re in the process of filling those up,” says Ross. “Just talking with the youth and high school students, university students, it’s been very difficult for these young individuals to find jobs. So, having an opportunity like this to find vendors that are actually looking is amazing.” For candidate Alexandra Lamassiki, the fair is more than a chance to network, landing a job will help pay for school and strengthen future opportunities. “I applied to at least more than 50 jobs realistically, on Indeed or LinkedIn and I’ve only got back one reply,” says Lamasski. “I’m really hoping I can find a job there that will benefit my career after school.” Data from Statistics Canada shows job vacancy rates have dropped to their lowest since 2019, meaning fewer job openings and more competition. On average, for every job opening, there are three candidates hoping to fill the role. While recent signs suggest unemployment may continue a downward trend, job growth in Canada is likely expected to remain slow throughout 2026 and into 2027.
