Canada Employment Tops Forecasts in June

Canada's employment increased by 18,000 in June 2026, above market expectations for a 10,000 gain, following an increase of 88,000 in May. Employment rose 0.1% from the previous month, driven by a 32,000 increase among private-sector employees after a 56,000 gain in May. Accommodation and food services added 15,000 jobs, marking a third consecutive monthly increase. In contrast, manufacturing employment fell by 17,000, reversing much of May's 15,000 increase. Public-sector employment declined by 31,000. Regionally, employment increased in Quebec (+14,000) for a second straight month, as well as in Nova Scotia (+4,800) and Saskatchewan (+2,900). Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 60.8%.

Employment in Canada rose by 88,000 from the previous month in May 2026, the most since December 2024 and well above market expectations for a gain of 10,000. The rebound followed a cumulative net loss of 112,000 jobs during the first four months of the year. Employment increased among both private-sector workers (+56,000) and public-sector employees (+20,000). Full-time employment climbed by 154,000, while part-time positions declined by 66,000 and self-employment was little changed. Job gains were concentrated in construction (+27,000), information, culture and recreation (+19,000), transportation and warehousing (+19,000), and accommodation and food services (+17,000). In contrast, wholesale and retail trade shed 35,000 jobs. Regionally, employment increased in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island, while Saskatchewan recorded a decline. The employment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 60.7%.

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%.