Canadians worry about impact of trade wars as pessimism about economy deepens

The Survey on Employment and Skills is conducted by the Environics Institute for Survey Research, in partnership with the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Future Skills Centre. Wave 8 of the recurring survey of 5,603 adult Canadians was conducted online and by telephone between March 12 and April 15, 2025, before the federal election held on April 28.

The survey found that one in two Canadian workers worry about the impact of U.S. tariffs on their job. Concerns about the impact of U.S. tariffs are contributing to a growing pessimism among Canadians about the economy, employment and their own financial situation.

The latest wave of the Survey on Employment and Skills finds that:

• Canadians worry about impact of trade wars as pessimism about economy deepens.
• The proportion worried about the impact that U.S. tariffs might have on their own job is higher than average among:
  • racialized workers (58%),
  • immigrants (57%),
  • low-income earners (57%),
  •  those who work in in sales or retail jobs (56%),
  •  those who work in the skilled trades (55%)
  •  and younger adults age 18-34 (52%).
• 83% of Canadians are very or somewhat worried about the impact that U.S tariffs might have on the Canadian economy.
• 47% of employed Canadians are very or somewhat worried about the impact that U.S. tariffs might have on their own job.