Garnett Genuis, Conservative Shadow Minister for Employment, terms the labour force survey as 'grim'.

“Despite eloquent speeches and glittering media campaigns, everyday Canadians see that Liberal rhetoric doesn’t match reality. January’s Labour Force Survey paints a grim picture for tens of thousands of workers, and for the families and communities that depend on them," he said.

Stating further he said, "The private sector took the biggest hit, with 52,000 job losses last month. Our manufacturers alone lost an astounding 27,500 jobs in January, down by over 37,000 since Mark Carney became Prime Minister. After high-profile stories like General Motors cutting a full shift from their Oshawa plant last week, these figures are sad but unsurprising.

“Meanwhile, youth employment dropped by 16,600 in January 2026 compared to December 2025," he added.

“Importantly, the number of Canadians not participating in the labour force at all, and therefore not counted in the unemployment figures, rose by nearly 3 per cent compared to January 2025. Of these, some 34,000 checked out," said Genius. 

“The Liberals’ failure to end uncompetitive laws and open new markets have real consequences for Canadian workers. That’s why Conservatives are bringing forward solutions like the Canadian Sovereignty Act, which will create jobs and paycheques by unlocking our potential and protecting made-in-Canada innovations. And it’s why we stand ready to work with the government to get shovels in the ground on nation-building projects and secure the trade deals our workers need to thrive," he stated.