This is Eric Jordan, CPPA—business valuator, business writer, and founder of PIN Services Ltd.—bringing you another straight-talking analysis through the lens of real-world business ownership and my proprietary 25 Factors Affecting Business Valuation methodology.
Let’s look at two very different employment stories from April 2025. In the United States, we saw a strong performance: 177,000 new jobs added, handily beating the Dow Jones forecast of 133,000. Unemployment held steady at 4.2%, showing resilience—even in the face of global tariff tensions.
The breakdown is telling:
The U.S. even showed strategic tightening: federal jobs fell by 9,000 due to efficiency measures. Manufacturing slipped by 1,000 jobs—yes—but it’s an early signal of tariff impact, not collapse.
And here’s something rarely talked about: the power of English-language financial media. Clear, data-driven, globally digestible reporting builds investor confidence. It’s a powerful intangible asset—one Canada ignores at its own peril.
Now contrast this with Canada.
In March 2025, Canada lost 33,000 jobs—its worst showing since January 2022. Unemployment ticked up to 6.7%. While U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and autos have undeniably hurt, much of Canada’s pain is self-inflicted.
Here’s why:
Canada has deprioritized merit and economic productivity in favour of DEI mandates and heritage quotas—ignoring the global value of the English language and the practical skills needed in today’s economy.
The result?
Only personal services (+12,000) and utilities (+4,200) showed any adaptability.
Wage growth also slowed, down to 3.6% annually from 3.8%, a sign of deceleration, not expansion.
But the real warning bell? Canada’s health care sector. While the U.S. is aggressively training and deploying medical professionals, Canada continues to suffer from doctor shortages, driven by immigration barriers, licensing delays, and policy inertia. That has ripple effects—not just in care, but in job creation and economic confidence.
And what’s Ottawa doing? The Bank of Canada is considering cutting rates from 2.75% to 2.5%—a reactive move, not a solution.
This divergence is about more than jobs. It reflects two fundamentally different economic philosophies.
The U.S. is proving that a merit-based system, focused on adaptability and backed by English-language clarity, can withstand global headwinds—even tariffs.
Canada, meanwhile, is drifting. And until we re-align on merit, skills, and the global power of English, we’ll continue to lose ground—not just in job numbers, but in global relevance.
This is Eric Jordan, CPPA. For more real-world business insights rooted in ownership experience, visit www.pin.ca
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