Employment in Canada edged down by 18,000 in April 2026, following a gain of 14,000 in the prior month and missing forecasts for a 15,000 increase. The result marked a second straight month of limited movement after February’s sharp decline of 84,000 jobs. Full-time employment fell by 47,000, while part-time positions increased by 29,000. Employment levels were broadly unchanged across the private and public sectors, as well as among self-employed workers. The unemployment rate rose among youth aged 15 to 24 to 14.3% and among core-aged men to 6.1%. Regionally, employment declined in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick, while Ontario added 42,000 jobs. Meanwhile, the employment rate slipped 0.1 percentage points to 60.5%. source: Statistics Canada

Employment in Canada decreased by 17.70 in April of 2026. Employment Change in Canada averaged 18.75 Thousand from 1976 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 1035.80 Thousand in June of 2020 and a record low of -1991.40 Thousand in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - Canada Employment Change - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Canada Employment Change - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Employment in Canada decreased by 17.70 in April of 2026. Employment Change in Canada is expected to be 40.00 Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Canada Employment Change is projected to trend around 25.00 Thousand in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-10 12:30 PM
Employment Change
Mar 14.1K -83.9K 15K 30.0K
2026-05-08 12:30 PM
Employment Change
Apr -17.7K 14.1K 15K 20.0K
2026-06-05 12:30 PM
Employment Change
May -17.7K


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Wages 38.76 38.69 CAD Apr 2026
Employed Persons 21033.70 21051.40 Thousand Apr 2026
Employment Change -17.70 14.10 Thousand Apr 2026
Employment Rate 60.50 60.60 percent Apr 2026
Full Time Employment Chg -46.70 -1.10 Thousand Apr 2026
Job Vacancies 495125.00 492475.00 Dec 2025
Participation Rate 65.00 64.90 percent Apr 2026
Labour Costs 131.71 130.84 points Dec 2025
Minimum Wages 17.60 17.20 CAD/Hour Oct 2025
Non Farm Payrolls 18282.00 18343.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Part Time Employment Chg 29.00 15.20 Thousand Apr 2026
Population 41.65 41.26 Million Dec 2025
Labor Productivity 104.42 103.48 points Sep 2025
Unemployed Persons 1566.40 1515.20 Thousand Apr 2026
Unemployment Rate 6.90 6.70 percent Apr 2026
Average Weekly Earnings YoY 3.40 1.93 percent Feb 2026
Wages 33.04 32.72 CAD/Hour Feb 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 32.11 32.47 CAD/Hour Feb 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.30 13.80 percent Apr 2026


Canada Employment Change
In Canada, employment change refers to the change in the number of persons who work for pay or profit, or perform unpaid family work. Estimates include both full-time and part-time employment.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-17.70 14.10 1035.80 -1991.40 1976 - 2026 Thousand Monthly
Volume, SA

News Stream
Canada Employment Unexpectedly Falls in April
Employment in Canada edged down by 18,000 in April 2026, following a gain of 14,000 in the prior month and missing forecasts for a 15,000 increase. The result marked a second straight month of limited movement after February’s sharp decline of 84,000 jobs. Full-time employment fell by 47,000, while part-time positions increased by 29,000. Employment levels were broadly unchanged across the private and public sectors, as well as among self-employed workers. The unemployment rate rose among youth aged 15 to 24 to 14.3% and among core-aged men to 6.1%. Regionally, employment declined in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick, while Ontario added 42,000 jobs. Meanwhile, the employment rate slipped 0.1 percentage points to 60.5%.
2026-05-08
Canada Employment Little Changed in March
Employment in Canada edged up by 0.1% or 14K in March 2026, following a cumulative decline of 109,000 (-0.5%) over the first two months of 2026 and roughly in line with forecasts of a 15K rise. The number of full-time and part-time workers both showed little variation in March. Employment rose in the 'other services' industry (+15,000; +1.9%), which includes personal and repair services, and it also increased in natural resources (+10,000; +3.0%). Employment declined in finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing (-11,000; -0.8%). The employment rate was unchanged at 60.6%, following a cumulative decline of 0.3 percentage points in January and February.
2026-04-10
Canada Employment Unexpectedly Falls
Employment in Canada fell by 83,900 or 0.4% in February 2026, following a 25,000 decrease in January and sharply missing forecasts for a 10,000 increase. The latest figure also marked the sharpest decline since January 2022, with losses concentrated in full-time positions, down 0.6% or 108,400, while part-time employment was little changed, up 24,500 after a drop in January. By sector, employment declined in wholesale and retail trade (-17,900; -0.6%), other services (-13,900, -1.8%), information, culture, and recreation (-12,000, -1.4%), and construction (-11,800; -0.7%). Offsetting gains were seen in transportation and warehousing (+10,300; 0.9%) and public administration (+8,100; 0.7%). Regionally, employment fell sharply in Quebec (-57,000; -1.2%), followed by Saskatchewan (-5,500; -0.9%) and Manitoba (-4,000; -0.5%), while it increased by 2,100 (+0.8%) in Newfoundland and Labrador.
2026-03-13