Jobs in Canada by Type (2026): Full-Time, Part-Time, Contract & Internship
Full-time, part-time, contract, or internship in Canada — how each type of job hires, what employers pay, and where to search for each in 2026.
"Jobs in Canada" is a big search — narrowing by employment type is the fastest way to find roles that actually match what you want. Each type has different pay conventions, benefits, tax treatment, and hiring boards. Here's what to know before you apply.
Full-time jobs in Canada
Full-time in Canada typically means 30–40 hours per week, with statutory holidays, at least two weeks' vacation (three in Saskatchewan), and — from most employers — extended health and dental benefits, RRSP matching, and paid sick days. Employment is either at will-adjacent (with statutory notice or pay-in-lieu) or governed by a fixed-term contract.
Where to search: Job Bank Canada, LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, industry-specific boards. Filter by "Full-time" in the employment type facet.
Part-time jobs in Canada
Part-time work is common in retail, hospitality, food service, warehousing, and health-care support roles. Hourly pay is based on the provincial minimum wage or higher; some employers extend prorated benefits for part-timers working 20+ hours consistently. Shift-based scheduling is the norm.
Where to search: Job Bank, Indeed, Snagajob, and each retailer's careers page. See our part-time job resume guide for the resume format.
Contract jobs in Canada
Contract in Canada usually means one of three things:
- Fixed-term employee contract — same tax treatment as full-time, just with an end date. Common in the public sector.
- T4A independent contractor — you invoice, cover your own CPP, EI, and taxes. Rates typically 20-40% higher than full-time to compensate.
- Contract-through-agency — an agency employs you and bills the client. Common in IT and staffing.
Where to search: LinkedIn (filter Contract), Dice, staffing agencies (Robert Half, Randstad, Aerotek, Procom), and government tender portals (BuyandSell.gc.ca for federal).
Internships and co-ops in Canada
Most Canadian internships are paid, especially at universities with formal co-op programs (Waterloo, Toronto, UBC, McGill, Concordia). Terms usually run 4, 8, 12, or 16 months. Unpaid internships are restricted in most provinces except for academic credit or non-profit/political roles.
Where to search: your university's co-op portal (WaterlooWorks, uOttawa Co-op, etc.), Talent Egg, Indeed's Internship filter, and directly on employer sites. See the student resume guide.
How to filter each on job boards
- Job Bank — use the "Employment type" filter (Full-time, Part-time, Seasonal, Contract, Casual).
- LinkedIn — "Job type" filter in the search bar.
- Indeed — "Job type" facet on the left side.
- Glassdoor — combine "Job type" with "Company" filters.
Which resume works for each
- Full-time — standard 1–2 page reverse-chronological resume, quantified bullets.
- Part-time — often one page; emphasise availability, reliability, and prior part-time experience.
- Contract — lead with recent contracts and outcomes shipped; group short contracts under a "consulting" umbrella if they're brief.
- Internship — one page; lead with education, projects, coursework, and any leadership or extracurricular experience.