Canada Study Details Labour Market for Young Graduates

Statistics Canada reports on wages and employment conditions for adults aged 25 to 34 with bachelor degrees.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Employment

Canada Study Details Labour Market for Young Graduates

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Do you believe the current job market is improving for young university graduates in Canada?

A new Statistics Canada study finds that 69 percent of adults aged 25 to 34 with a bachelor degree or higher held permanent, full-time positions in 2025. The research, based on the Labour Force Survey, also highlights that the average hourly wage for this group reached $39.18.

Why it matters

Understanding these labour metrics helps clarify the transition from higher education into the workforce and highlights persistent trends in wage gaps and job quality for early-career professionals in Canada. The data provides a benchmark for evaluating economic integration for young degree holders.

In 2025, the average hourly wage for young university graduates was $39.18, with women earning $0.92 for every dollar earned by men. Additionally, 60 percent of women and 56 percent of men in this demographic had access to employer-sponsored pension plans.

The players

Statistics Canada

This is the national statistical agency that produces data and analysis to help Canadians better understand their country, including its population, resources, economy, society, and culture.

The details

The analysis indicates that 14 percent of women and 15 percent of men aged 25 to 34 worked in positions that do not typically require postsecondary education. These findings draw on comprehensive Labour Force Survey data that tracks employment, wages, and union coverage.

2017-2019: Pre-pandemic period for employment benchmarks.
2022: Peak employment for young university graduates.
2025: Current data year for employment and wage statistics.

Macro View

This study situates current labour market outcomes within the context of recent economic cycles, specifically comparing 2025 metrics to the 2022 peak employment period. These findings offer a view of how the early-career workforce has evolved since the post-pandemic recovery.

This data provides a standard for young professionals to compare their current earnings and pension benefits against national averages for their education level. Readers can use these benchmarks to better understand wage growth and job security trends within the competitive Canadian labour market.

The takeaway

Young graduates should note that while most maintain full-time roles, wage and pension disparities persist across gender lines. Assessing one's compensation against these national averages can provide valuable context for navigating the current Canadian job market.