Hiring Intentions Remain Positive Despite March Pullback
- ClearView Insider
- Mar 19
- 1 min read
The March CFIB Business Barometer shows a modest decline in overall business confidence, despite this pullback, hiring intentions remain in positive territory:
19% of businesses plan to hire, compared to 13% planning layoffs, maintaining net-positive employment expectations.
Hiring sentiment has improved relative to much of 2025, when layoffs often outpaced hiring.
The March confidence dip reflects renewed caution, particularly tied to demand uncertainty and ongoing cost pressures.
For Alberta, this combination of positive hiring intentions and declining confidence suggests a more cautious growth environment. Businesses are still planning to add staff, but with tighter controls and shorter planning horizons.
From a commercial real estate perspective, this typically translates into measured leasing activity — with occupiers prioritizing flexibility, renewals and incremental expansion over large-scale commitments.
Connect with Clearview: Interested in how shifting hiring trends may influence leasing demand, tenant expansion or space planning? Contact us at info@cvpartners.ca. We are here to provide insight and help you navigate Calgary’s evolving market dynamics.
Source: Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Monthly Business Barometer, March 2026.