Job security, pay growth, and education value all face scrutiny
For Canadian workers and the next generation of career builders, the ground feels increasingly unstable.
Fears of recession, stagnant compensation growth, and questions about the value of higher education are all reshaping how people see their employment prospects in the months ahead, according to several new reports.
First, a survey from Express Employment Professionals and The Harris Poll, which found that 78% of Canadian job seekers believe no job is truly secure, regardless of performance, while three in four say job security itself “is becoming a thing of the past.”
Nearly seven in ten employed job seekers once felt stable in their careers but now admit everything feels uncertain. As a result, more than 80% have changed their job search behavior because of economic conditions, with many willing to take lower salaries, accept jobs they’re overqualified for, or even switch industries entirely.
“In times of economic uncertainty, job seekers should focus on adaptability and self-investment,” said Bob Funk Jr., CEO, president and chairman of Express Employment International. “Expand your search, sharpen your skills and stay open to new opportunities, even those outside your comfort zone.”
At the same time, the compensation outlook is tightening with Mercer’s latest compensation survey showing that Canadian employers expect to dial back salary growth in 2026.
Merit increases are projected to average just 2.9%, with total increase budgets hovering at 3.2%, both below the levels delivered in early 2025. Promotions are also set to decline, from 9.8% of employees in 2025 to 8.7% next year. For younger workers hoping to climb quickly, the ladder looks shorter and more crowded.
Compounding these pressures, a new Ipsos survey for CourseCompare reveals that 39% of Canadians aren’t sure a diploma or degree is even worth the cost anymore and among Gen Z, nearly half doubt the value of higher education.
“Every Canadian deserves to know if their education will pay off,” said Robert Furtado, founder and CEO of CourseCompare. “Understanding the likely return on a diploma or degree is as essential as knowing the interest rate on a mortgage—yet in Canada, that data is still largely out of reach.”
CourseCompare’s new Return on Education Index shows strong short-term returns in trades and healthcare diplomas such as automotive service and nursing, but weak returns for popular degrees in fine arts and biological sciences where payback can stretch beyond seven years.
Canada’s youth posted their lowest employment rate since 1998 in July, as the labour market shed 41,000 jobs and recorded its weakest performance in three years, according to recent data from Statistics Canada.
