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Canada Unemployment Rate Drops to 16-Month Low
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.5% in January 2026 from 6.8% in the previous month, undershooting market expectations of 6.8% and marking the lowest level in 16 months, as fewer people searched for work. The decline marked a partial reversal of the prior month’s increase and reflected a 94,000 drop in the number of unemployed to around 1.5 million. The labour force contracted by roughly 94,000, pushing the participation rate down to 65.0% from 65.4%. Net employment fell by 25,000 to 21.12 million, interrupting the recent run of gains. Losses were driven by a 70,000 decline in part-time employment, partly offset by a 45,000 increase in full-time work.
Published on 2026-02-06

Canada Unemployment Rate Drops to 16-Month Low
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.5% in January 2026 from 6.8% in the previous month, undershooting market expectations of 6.8% and marking the lowest level in 16 months, as fewer people searched for work. The decline marked a partial reversal of the prior month’s increase and reflected a 94,000 drop in the number of unemployed to around 1.5 million. The labour force contracted by roughly 94,000, pushing the participation rate down to 65.0% from 65.4%. Net employment fell by 25,000 to 21.12 million, interrupting the recent run of gains. Losses were driven by a 70,000 decline in part-time employment, partly offset by a 45,000 increase in full-time work.
Published on 2026-02-06

Canada Unemployment Rate Drops to 18-Month Low
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.5% in January 2026 from 6.8% in the previous month, undershooting market expectations of 6.8% and marking the lowest level in 18 months, as fewer people searched for work. The decline marked a partial reversal of the prior month’s increase and reflected a 94,000 drop in the number of unemployed to around 1.5 million. The labour force contracted by roughly 94,000, pushing the participation rate down to 65.0% from 65.4%. Net employment fell by 25,000 to 21.12 million, interrupting the recent run of gains. Losses were driven by a 70,000 decline in part-time employment, partly offset by a 45,000 increase in full-time work.
Published on 2026-02-06

Canada Jobless Rate Drops to 16-Month Low
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.5% in January 2026 from 6.8% in the previous month, undershooting market expectations of 6.8% and marking the lowest level in 16 months, as fewer people searched for work. The decline marked a partial reversal of the prior month’s increase and reflected a 94,000 drop in the number of unemployed to around 1.5 million. The labour force contracted by roughly 94,000, pushing the participation rate down to 65.0% from 65.4%. Net employment fell by 25,000 to 21.12 million, interrupting the recent run of gains. Losses were driven by a 70,000 decline in part-time employment, partly offset by a 45,000 increase in full-time work.
Published on 2026-02-06

Canada Unemployment Rate Edges Higher
The unemployment rate in Canada rose to 6.8% in December 2025 from 6.5% in the previous month and above market expectations of 6.6%, as more people entered the job market in search of work. The uptick partially reversed a cumulative 0.6-percentage-point decline recorded over the prior two months. The number of unemployed rose by 73,000 to 1.6 million, while the labor force increased by 81,000, pushing the participation rate up to 65.4%. Net employment rose by 8,200 to 21.14 million, marking a fourth consecutive month of improvement. Gains were driven by a 50,200 increase in full-time employment, offset by a 42,000 decline in part-time work.
Published on 2026-01-09

Canada Unemployment Rate Edges Higher
The unemployment rate in Canada rose to 6.8% in December 2025 from 6.5% in the previous month and above market expectations of 6.6%, as more people entered the job market in search of work. The uptick partially reversed a cumulative 0.6-percentage-point decline recorded over the prior two months. The number of unemployed increased by 72,900 to 1.6 million, trailing an 81,000 rise in the labor force, which pushed the participation rate up to 65.4%. Meanwhile, net employment rose by 8,200 to 21.14 million, marking a fourth consecutive month of improvement. Gains were driven by a 50,200 increase in full-time employment, while part-time employment fell by 42,000.
Published on 2026-01-09

Canada Unemployment Rate Edges Higher
The unemployment rate in Canada rose to 6.8% in December 2025 from 6.5% in the previous month and above market expectations of 6.6%, as more people entered the job market in search of work. The uptick partially reversed a cumulative 0.6-percentage-point decline recorded over the prior two months. The number of unemployed increased by 72,900 to 1.6 million, trailing an 81,000 rise in the labor force, which pushed the participation rate up to 65.4%. Meanwhile, net employment rose by 8,200 to 21.14 million, marking a fourth consecutive month of improvement. Gains were driven by a 50,200 increase in full-time employment, while part-time employment fell by 42,000.
Published on 2026-01-09

Canada Unemployment Rate Falls to 16-Month Low
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.5% in November of 2025 from 6.9% in the previous month, the lowest in 16 months, and contrasting sharply with expectations that it would rise to 7%. The result marked a reversal in the trend of a rising jobless rate through most of the year, as the unemployed population fell by 80 thousand from the previous month to 1.5 million. This was sharper than the 26 thousand reduction in the labor force, bringing the labor force participation rate to 65.1%. In the meantime, net employment jumped by 53.6 thousand to 21.14 million, a third consecutive month of marked improvement. The increase was owed to a 63 thousand surge in part-time employment, with nearly 18% of those reporting to do so involuntarily, a broadly steady ration throughout the last year.
Published on 2025-12-05

Canada Unemployment Rate Falls to 15-Month Low
The unemployment rate in Canada fell sharply to 6.5% in November of 2025 from 6.9% in the previous month, the lowest in 15 months, and contrasting sharply with expectations that it would rise to 7%. The result marked a reversal in the trend of a rising jobless rate through most of the year, as the unemployed population fell by 80 thousand from the previous month to 1.5 million. This was sharper than the 26 thousand reduction in the labor force, bringing the labor force participation rate to 65.1%. In the meantime, net employment jumped by 53.6 thousand to 21.14 million, a third consecutive month of marked improvement.
Published on 2025-12-05

Canada Unemployment Rate Falls to 15-Month Low
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.5% in November of 2025 from 6.9% in the previous month, the lowest in 15 months, and contrasting sharply with expectations that it would rise to 7%. The result marked a reversal in the trend of a rising jobless rate through most of the year, as the unemployed population fell by 80 thousand from the previous month to 1.5 million. This was sharper than the 26 thousand reduction in the labor force, bringing the labor force participation rate to 65.1%. In the meantime, net employment jumped by 53.6 thousand to 21.14 million, a third consecutive month of marked improvement.
Published on 2025-12-05

Canada Unemployment Rate Falls to 16-Month Low
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.5% in November of 2025 from 6.9% in the previous month, the lowest in 16 months, and contrasting sharply with expectations that it would rise to 7%. The result marked a reversal in the trend of a rising jobless rate through most of the year, as the unemployed population fell by 80 thousand from the previous month to 1.5 million. This was sharper than the 26 thousand reduction in the labor force, bringing the labor force participation rate to 65.1%. In the meantime, net employment jumped by 53.6 thousand to 21.14 million, a third consecutive month of marked improvement.
Published on 2025-12-05

Canada Unemployment Rate Unexpectedly Drops
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.9% in October of 2025 from the four-year high of 7.1% in the previous month, compared with market expectations that it would remain unchanged at 7.1%. National employment increased by a net 66,600 jobs to 21,015,300, extending the jump from the previous month and contrasting sharply with bets that it would drop slightly. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed individuals fell by 49,200 to 1,557,300.
Published on 2025-11-07

Canada Unemployment Rate Unexpectedly Drops
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.9% in October of 2025 from the four-year high of 7.1% in the previous month, compared with market expectations that it would remain unchanged at 7.1%. National employment increased by a net 66,600 jobs to 21,015,300, extending the jump from the previous month and contrasting sharply with bets that it would drop slightly. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed individuals fell by 49,200 to 1,557,300. Joblessness was lower for core-aged men (-0.2 percentage points to 6%) and was little changed for core-aged women (5.7%). In the meantime, the youth unemployment rate fell by 0.6% to 14.1% for its first decline since February. In turn, long-term unemployment was at 21.3% of the jobless population, comparable to the ratio from the corresponding period of the previous year.
Published on 2025-11-07

Canada Unemployment Rate Unexpectedly Drops
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.9% in October of 2025 from the four-year high of 7.1% in the previous month, compared with market expectations that it would remain unchanged at 7.1%. National employment increased by a net 66,600 jobs to 21,015,300, extending the jump from the previous month and contrasting sharply with bets that it would drop slightly. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed individuals fell by 49,200 to 1,557,300.
Published on 2025-11-07

Canada Jobless Rate Steady as Employment Rebounds
Canada’s unemployment rate held steady at 7.1% in September 2025, slightly below market expectations of 7.2% but remaining at its highest level since August 2021. The number of unemployed people rose by 11,900 (+0.7%) to 1.61 million, while employment increased by 60,400 (+0.3%) to 21.02 million, easily surpassing forecasts for a modest 5,000 gain and partly offsetting a 106,000 (-0.5%) decline over the previous two months. Full-time employment rose sharply by 106,100 (+0.6%), whereas part-time jobs fell by 45,600 (-1.2%). The employment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 60.6%, marking the first increase in three months, while the labor force participation rate also ticked higher by 0.1 point to 65.2%.
Published on 2025-10-10

Canada Jobless Rate Steady at 7.1%
Canada’s unemployment rate held steady at 7.1% in September 2025, slightly below market expectations of 7.2% but remaining at its highest level since August 2021. The number of unemployed people rose by 11,900 (+0.7%) to 1.61 million, while employment increased by 60,400 (+0.3%) to 21.02 million, easily surpassing forecasts for a modest 5,000 gain and partly offsetting a 106,000 (-0.5%) decline over the previous two months. Full-time employment rose sharply by 106,100 (+0.6%), whereas part-time jobs fell by 45,600 (-1.2%). The employment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 60.6%, marking the first increase in three months, while the labor force participation rate also ticked higher by 0.1 point to 65.2%.
Published on 2025-10-10

Canada Jobless Rate Steady at Four-Year High
Canada’s unemployment rate held steady at 7.1% in September 2025, slightly below market expectations of 7.2% but remaining at its highest level since August 2021. The number of unemployed people rose by 11,900 (+0.7%) to 1.61 million, while employment increased by 60,400 (+0.3%) to 21.02 million, easily surpassing forecasts for a modest 5,000 gain and partly offsetting a 106,000 (-0.5%) decline over the previous two months. Full-time employment rose sharply by 106,100 (+0.6%), whereas part-time jobs fell by 45,600 (-1.2%). The employment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 60.6%, marking the first increase in three months, while the labor force participation rate also ticked higher by 0.1 point to 65.2%.
Published on 2025-10-10

Canada Jobless Rate at 4-Year High
The unemployment rate in Canada rose 0.2 percentage points to 7.1% in August 2025, the highest level in four years, above market expectations of 7% and higher than the 6.9% recorded in July. This was in line with the Bank of Canada's assessment that a large supply of labor and increasing growth concerns due to tariffs and uncertain economic policy from the US threatened further deterioration in the domestic labor backdrop. The number of unemployed people increased to about 1.595 million. This coincided with a 66,000 drop in net employment, extending the 41,000 decrease in July, as the participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 65.1%. In turn, youth unemployment remained elevated at 14.5%, largely due to slow hiring for seasonal summer jobs.
Published on 2025-09-05

Canada Jobless Rate Holds Near 4-Year High
The unemployment rate in Canada remained unchanged from the previous month at 6.9% in July of 2025, slightly below market expectations of 7%, but holding relatively close to the near-four-year high of 7% two months prior. This was in line with the Bank of Canada's assessment that a large supply of labor and increasing growth concerns due to tariffs and uncertain economic policy from the US threatened further deterioration in the domestic labor backdrop. The number of unemployed people was relatively unchanged at 1.6 million, with 23.8% of those classified as long-term unemployed. This coincided with a 40.8 thousand drop in net employment, the sharpest since 2022, trimming the 83.1 thousand surge from June and contrasting with expectations of a 13.5 thousand increase, as the participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 65.2%. In turn, youth unemployment rose to 14.6%, the highest since 2010 when excluding the pandemic shock, largely due to slow hiring for seasonal summer jobs.
Published on 2025-08-08

Canada Jobless Rate Holds Near 4-Year High
The unemployment rate in Canada remained unchanged from the previous month at 6.9% in July of 2025, slightly below market expectations of 7%, but holding relatively close to the near-four-year high of 7% two months prior. The result was in line with the Bank of Canada's assessment that a large supply of labor and increasing growth concerns due to tariffs and uncertain economic policy from the US threatened further deterioration in the domestic labor backdrop. The number of unemployed people was relatively unchanged at 1.6 million, with 23.8% of those classified as long-term unemployed. This coincided with a 40.8 thousand drop in net employment, trimming the 83.1 thousand surge from June and contrasting with expectations of a 13.5 thousand increase, as the participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 65.2%. In turn, youth unemployment rose to 14.6%, the highest since 2010 when excluding the pandemic shock, largely due to slow hiring for seasonal summer jobs.
Published on 2025-08-08