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2025-09-18 19:30:34
[Canada's Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Face Worrying Outlook, Expectations of Layoffs Rise] (1) According to data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), although Canada's Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Confidence Index rebounded slightly to 50.2 in September, up from 48.3 the previous month, the overall outlook remains bleak. (2) An index above 50 indicates that more businesses anticipate sales growth, but the CFIB notes that the data reveals a more grim reality. (3) Over half of the businesses surveyed, 54.6%, cite weak domestic demand as the biggest headwind to sales growth. (4) Furthermore, the labor market is facing downward pressure, with 18% of businesses indicating plans to reduce their workforce over the next three to four months, while only 12% anticipate increasing employment, and the remainder anticipate maintaining staff levels. (5) This suggests that despite a slight improvement in business confidence, concerns about the job market in the coming months remain, with layoff expectations exceeding hiring expectations.
