Canada added 14,000 jobs in March, but the country’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.7 per cent, Statistics Canada said Friday.

While the employment was “little changed” last month, it comes on the back of a loss of 84,000 jobs in February, which raised the unemployment rate from 6.5 per cent to 6.7 per cent.

Job growth was led by a category the agency calls “other services,” which includes repair and maintenance work in the economy, as well as the professional, scientific and technical services and natural resources industries.

Canada’s natural resources sector saw a three per cent increase, adding 10,000 new jobs. Nearly half of those jobs came from Alberta alone.

The tariff-sensitive manufacturing industry eked out a few thousand job gains in March, while the finance, insurance, real estate and leasing sector led last month’s losses.

While employment in health care was little changed compared with last month, the sector added 94,000 new jobs compared with the same time last year. Over the same period, Canada shed 44,000 manufacturing jobs.

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Canadians earned higher hourly wages in March compared with the same time last year, with average hourly wages rising 4.7 per cent — a jump from 3.9 per cent in February and the fastest pace in 18 months.

2:44
Canada lost 84,000 jobs in February as unemployment rate ticked up, Statistics Canada reports

The unemployment rate was steady across age groups.

For people in the “core working age” group – ages 25 to 54 – the unemployment rate was largely unchanged at 5.8 per cent.

While youth unemployment rose 1.3 percentage points in February, to 13.8 per cent, it was unchanged for youth between the ages of 15 and 24. The figure was below the recent high of 14.6 per cent recorded in September 2025.

For Canadians over 55, the unemployment rate was 4.9 per cent in March.

Canada’s economy “still faces headwinds” in the future, RBC economist Nathan Janzen said in a note Friday.

“Trade uncertainty remains ahead of negotiations to extend CUSMA this summer, and higher energy prices are cutting into household purchasing power,” Janzen said.

— with files from The Canadian Press

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

You get a text message. It says Amazon is hiring. The pay sounds great. The work is easy. It feels like a lucky break. Then you read it again. That is when things start to feel off, and you realize it could be a scam. Let’s break down the exact text message scammers are sending and call out every red flag so you know what to watch for next time.

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YOUTUBE JOB SCAM TEXT: HOW TO SPOT IT FAST
 

A text claiming Amazon is hiring may look convincing at first, but generic wording, unrealistic pay and a missing hiring process are major scam red flags. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The biggest red flags in this Amazon job text

Here is what stands out right away in this message.

1) It starts with a generic greeting

The message opens with “Hi” and does not include your name. Legitimate recruiters usually personalize outreach, especially for a job opportunity. A generic greeting suggests this message was sent to many people at once.

2) You did not apply for this job

The message shows up out of nowhere, which should immediately raise concern. In this case, there was no application submitted and no prior contact with a recruiter. Because of that, the outreach feels unexpected and unverified. Legitimate companies do not randomly text people with job offers, especially without any previous interaction.

3) The sender does not match the company

The message comes from a random Hotmail email address, not an official Amazon domain. Real recruiters from Amazon use corporate email accounts tied to Amazon. They do not text you from a generic email or personal number. That alone should stop you in your tracks.

4) The job offer is vague

The role description sounds broad and generic. “Supporting Amazon sellers” and “online tasks” could mean anything. There are no clear responsibilities, no team, no department. Scammers keep things vague on purpose. It helps them reach more people.

5) The pay makes no sense

The message promises $100 to $600 per day for about an hour of work. That is not how legitimate jobs work. When you see high pay for very little effort, that is often bait designed to pull you in fast.

6) The numbers do not add up

It mentions a base pay of $1,000 for every four working days. That conflicts with the daily rate listed earlier. Inconsistent details are a common scam signal. Real job offers are clear and consistent.

7) They push you to respond quickly

The message asks you to text “Interested” to a phone number instead of applying through a formal process. There is no application, no interview and no verification. Because of that, the urgency is intentional and designed to get a fast response before you have time to think it through.

8) The phone number looks unusual or international

The message tells you to text a number like +14482009251. At first glance, it may look like a U.S. number because of the +1 country code. But scammers often use internet-based numbers that can be routed from anywhere. Legitimate recruiters rarely ask you to move a job conversation to a random phone number. If the number feels off, trust that instinct. 

9) The age requirement is unusual

It says, “If you are 25 or older.” That is not a standard hiring requirement for most roles. Random restrictions like this are another sign that something is off.

10) No official hiring process

There is no mention of:

• A job listing
• A company’s careers page
• A recruiter profile
• An interview

Legitimate companies follow structured hiring steps. They do not skip straight to texting.

SSA IMPERSONATION SCAMS ARE GETTING MORE PERSONAL
 

Job scammers are now targeting phones with fake Amazon recruiting texts that promise easy remote work and fast money. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Why this scam works so well

These messages hit a sweet spot for many people. They promise flexible work while also offering remote roles and quick income. As a result, that combination is hard to ignore, especially if you are job hunting. Because of this, scammers design messages that feel like an opportunity rather than a risk.

What this means to you

You are likely to see more messages like this. Job scams have moved from email to text because people respond faster on their phones. That means you need to slow down and question anything that feels too easy or too good. A real opportunity will still be there tomorrow. A scam depends on speed.

We reached out to Amazon about this text message scam, and a spokesperson told us:

“Scammers that attempt to impersonate Amazon put consumers at risk. We will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on scam avoidance. We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe.”

Ways to stay safe from job text scams

Start with a quick gut check. Then take these steps. 

1) Verify the company directly

Go to the official website of Amazon and check their careers page. If the job is real, it will be listed there. 

2) Do not respond to unknown job texts

Instead, ignore the message completely. Do not text back, click any links or call the number. Even a quick reply can confirm your number is active, which may lead to more scam attempts.

3) Remove your data from broker sites

Scammers often find your number through data broker websites that collect and sell personal information. Using a trusted data removal service can help reduce your exposure by removing your information from hundreds of these sites and lowering the chances of being targeted. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

4) Use strong antivirus protection

If a scam message leads you to a link, your device could be exposed. Strong antivirus software helps block malicious downloads before they cause harm. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

5) Watch for unrealistic pay

High pay for minimal work is one of the biggest warning signs. If it sounds easy, assume there is a catch.

TECH GIANTS UNITE TO FIGHT ONLINE SCAMS
 

If a text promises Amazon work with high pay for little effort, treat it as suspicious and verify the job through official channels. (Jim Young/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

6) Check the sender carefully

Look at the email or phone number. If it is not tied to the company, treat it as suspicious.

7) Protect your personal information

Never share sensitive details like your Social Security number, banking information or ID through text. Real employers use secure systems, not text messages. 

8) Delete and report the message

After you spot the red flags, delete the message right away. In addition, use your phone’s “Report Spam” option to flag it. This helps your carrier and messaging apps identify similar scams and block them for others. lso, Amazon recommends visiting its help pages to find additional information on how to identify scams and report them at amazon.com/ReportAScam.

Kurt’s key takeaways

At first, the message looks polished. It uses a name and references a well-known company while laying out pay and benefits. However, once you slow down, the problems become clear. For example, the greeting is generic, and you never applied. In addition, the sender does not match the company, and the phone number feels off. On top of that, the pay is unrealistic, and the hiring process is missing entirely. This is how most scams work. They depend on speed instead of accuracy.

Have you ever received a job text like this, and what tipped you off that it was a scam? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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The post-graduation job hunt is beginning for hundreds of thousands of students across Canada.

For many, it’s a frustrating cycle of looking for jobs without having experience yet — when that’s a minimum requirement.

“Employers now have a higher bar because they expect students to show up ready to work, but university is not necessarily preparing them to show up ready with both the AI skills and the human interpersonal skills,” said Venture For Canada CEO Steven Wang.

“There’s a disconnect and I call that an ‘experience gap’ that we need to bridge.”

Non-profit Venture For Canada works to bridge the gap between employers and students heading into the workforce.

According to Wang, one in five small businesses are closing entry-level roles — limiting opportunities for recent grads.

“We are seeing 14 per cent unemployment among youth, that’s double the national average,” said Wang. “In some ways, that could be a bigger impact in the longer term. This might be the beginning; we’re seeing the anticipatory impact of AI and other disruptions.”

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For recent University of Toronto graduate Serina Woo, the job search has been ongoing since she graduated in 2025.

Woo has taken on several part-time jobs while looking for her 9 to 5, but says competing with graduates of master’s programs for the same roles is challenging.

“A lot of the times I hear from employers saying, ‘You’re perfect, you’re such a great candidate, I know you’d be a really good fit for the team, but there’s someone else with several more years of experience,’” said Woo.

She is grateful for this period of time without a 9 to 5, as she gets to explore her other interests and options while still young.

However, finding jobs that provide the necessary income while being unable to work on a subject you’re passionate about is difficult.

“I would love to work in psychology and that environment, but I have decided to work in restaurants because it’s good money and often I can get jobs very easily without necessarily having decades of experience,” said Isabelle Malavoy Mundle.

The June 2025 post-secondary graduate has been working mostly part-time jobs since leaving school and said it’s hard to find good-paying, stable jobs without a master’s degree.

“So, I have come to the realization that it is going to be important for me to specialize and go back to school in order to find stable income that I am passionate about,” Malavoy Mundle said. “Making sure I can pay the bills.”

Wang wants all sectors, government, businesses and universities to work together to ensure the next generation is given its fair shake.

“They just want a chance,” Wang said. “I think they’ve done all the right things, they’ve gotten the good grades and jumped through all the hoops and now they feel like there’s no opportunities.

“What we need is to provide concrete, realistic pathways for them.”

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.