What are Canada’s 15 most in-demand jobs for 2026?
- Sales associate
- Administrative assistant
- Customer service representative
- Accounting technician
- Receptionist
- Bookkeeper
- Retail sales associate
- Store manager
- Pharmacy assistant
- Registered practical nurse
- Dental assistant
- Registered nurse
- Licensed practical nurse
- Office administrator
- Forklift operator
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Student Work Permit holders leaving Canada in droves are making it harder to fill some of these roles:
Canada’s hiring landscape in 2026 is defined by a high demand for people‑powered roles: especially in healthcare, retail, customer service, administration, and logistics. At the same time, a major drop in non‑permanent residents is reducing the available labour pool, intensifying competition for workers and reshaping who fills critical frontline roles.
What if you currently employ student workers with permits that are expiring or have expired?
We know it’s difficult to keep track of all the changes to immigration and employment regulations. It is possible to still employ a student work permit holder with an expiring permit under certain conditions. This compromise can help employers work through a transition phase of reshuffling their workforce if they have key roles filled by flexible student permit holders with current or upcoming expiry dates.
Check out our blog on the topic. Remember, ABL can help you manage this transition: coordinating a contingency workforce is one of our specialties.
How ABL can help businesses feeling the loss of student workers and other non permanent residents:
ABL is uniquely positioned to help companies navigate these labour shortages by providing fast, reliable access to qualified local talent: especially in the frontline, warehouse, retail, administrative, and customer‑service roles now strained by the sharp decline in non‑permanent residents. As Canada loses thousands of temporary workers and international students, many employers struggle to maintain staffing levels in exactly the roles that drive day‑to‑day operations. ABL bridges this gap through targeted recruitment, flexible staffing models, and deep expertise in high‑demand sectors, ensuring businesses stay productive, compliant, and competitive: even as the labour market tightens.
Contact our Business Manager, Jeff Aran, or any ABL branch to learn how we can help you.
