Employment trends show job losses in Quebec and rising absenteeism in France

In Quebec, Statistics Canada data from August 2026 indicates a decline in employment, with approximately 19,000 jobs lost, representing a 0.4% decrease from the previous month. Despite this reduction, the provincial unemployment rate remained stable at 5.6%. This follows a broader Canadian trend where employment fell by 42,000 positions in the same period.

In the French private sector, the 2026 WTW Absenteeism Barometer reports that absenteeism rates have risen to 4.95%. This figure establishes a new standard significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, which were below 4%. The increase is largely driven by the lengthening of average sick leave, which reached 38 days in 2025.

The study highlights a high concentration of absences, noting that 11% of absent employees account for 61% of all missed workdays. While short-term absences (1 to 7 days) affect daily team organization, long-term absences exceeding 90 days are placing increasing pressure on organizations.