Canadian employers reported 402,000 job vacancies in the third quarter, Statistics Canada reported. The number of job vacancies edged up 2.4% from the second quarter of 2016, and was little changed compared with the third quarter of 2015. However, there were notable changes among the provinces and territories.

The job vacancy rate — a measure of job openings compared with total employment — was also stable year over year at 2.5%.

In Ontario, the number of job vacancies in the third quarter rose by 19,000, or 12.3%, compared with the third quarter of 2015, the largest increase among the provinces and territories. The job vacancy rate in the province increased from to 2.8% from 2.6% over the same period. In Alberta, the number of vacancies fell by 18,000, or 28.8%, in the third quarter compared with the third quarter of 2015, the largest decrease in the country, driven by declines in retail trade, accommodation and food services and construction.

The number of job vacancies rose in six of the 10 broad occupational groups compared with the third quarter of 2015. The largest increase was in business, finance and administration occupations, up 10,000, or 27.0%. Management occupations had the second-largest increase in the number of job vacancies, mostly due to more vacancies for managers in financial and business services.

Increases were offset by a decline in sales and service occupations, the only broad occupational group with a notable decrease at the national level. The number of vacancies in this group fell 21,000 year over year, driven by fewer vacancies for cashiers, as well as other sales support and related occupations such as store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers. Almost all of the decline, 19,000, was for part-time work.

Nationally, the average offered hourly wage for job vacancies was C$19.80 in the third quarter, up C$1.35, or 7.3%, compared with the same quarter a year earlier.