Chart 7: Firms’ employment plans have weakened, while investment plans remain strong https://www.bankofcanada.ca/?p=254713 Investment spending, change over the next 12 months (balance of opinion,* left scale) Investment spending, change over the next 12 months (balance of opinion,* left scale) Historical average balance of opinion, investment spending (left scale) Historical average balance of opinion, investment spending (left scale) Number of employees, change over the next 12 months (balance of opinion,† right scale) Number of employees, change over the next 12 months (balance of opinion,† right scale) Historical average balance of opinion, number of employees (right scale) Historical average balance of opinion, number of employees (right scale) 35163833 29165833 17163433 29163933 24164533 17165133 33163833 25164133 20163533 20163633 28163133 11164233 12162833 -30162233 2162633 26164333 40164533 36166533 46166733 47167733 42166333 37166633 29164733 20163533 19164533 14163433 7162733 22162133 0163233 11162633 9162833 32163333 3161833 7162333 7162533 14161633 29163833 30162733