Jobs and the Economy Fears of catching up to Healthcare trail Nanos

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Concern about jobs and the economy is approaching health care as the number one issue on Canadians’ minds, according to weekly national tracking by Nanos Research.

Healthcare began steadily rising as the number one issue for Canadians beginning in the fall of 2024, before skyrocketing as winter set in and hospital rooms were deteriorating under the strain of influenza and cases of RSV and COVID-19. In late November, a highest level in two years Keep track of our weekly Nanos issues.

But that trend began to reverse in late February, while concern about jobs and the economy began to climb steadily.

Health care remains the top national issue of concern, down 16 percent as of the latest available tracking, but it’s down four points over the previous four weeks. Jobs and the economy rose by two points, to 14 percent, within the margin of error.

Other issues related to the economy that Canadians said they are concerned about are inflation, debt, deficits and the cost of housing.

“It adds up to about three in 10 Canadians focusing on meat and potatoes issues, which are directly related to their pocketbook or the economy,” Nanos said on the latest episode of CTV News Trend Line. “So what we’re seeing now, at least in 2023, is a move away from issues like health care and now a greater focus on those economic issues.”

Nanos added that to his weekly consumer confidence tracker Bloomberg News It showed that while it is moving from negative to neutral, Canadians’ concerns about the direction the economy is headed remain in net negative territory.

“The truth is, Canadians are still worried about paying rent. They’re still worried about paying for groceries,” Nanos said.

“So there’s a huge level of anger right now and uncertainty related to the economy, and we don’t really know what’s going to happen in 2023.”

Unemployment rate It is holding steady near record lows of 5 percent, according to the latest Labor Force Survey.

But despite this news indicates that job market Strong, and economists expect a slowdown in the economy this year due to aggressive interest rate increases by the Bank of Canada which they believe will affect the economy.

Economists’ forecasts for a Canadian recession range from “IntenseIn the first quarter of 2023 tolightduring the middle quarters.

“Canadians are after the worst,” Nanos said.

Watch the full episode of the Trend Line in our video player at the top of this article. You can also listen in our audio player below, or wherever you get your podcasts. The next episode will be released on Wednesday, April 26th.