Canada Employment Unexpectedly Declines

Employment in Canada declined by 41,700 in August 2026, missing expectations for a 15,000 increase and following a 75,100 gain in July. Employment fell in business, building and other support services (-2.8%), public administration (-0.7%), natural resources (-2.3%), and utilities (-3.5%), while manufacturing employment increased 1.2%. By province, employment declined in Quebec (-0.4%) and edged down in Ontario (-0.2%), while it increased in New Brunswick (0.6%) and was little changed elsewhere. By age group, employment fell among youth aged 15 to 24 (-0.7%) and edged down among core-age workers aged 25 to 54 (-0.1%). Public-sector employment fell 0.4%, marking a third consecutive monthly decline, while private-sector employment was little changed. The employment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 60.8%. Year-on-year, employment increased by 217,000 in August.

Employment in Canada increased by 75,100 in July 2026, well above market expectations for a 15,000 gain, following a revised 18,200 increase in June. The employment level rose 0.4% month-over-month, driven by a 57,900 increase in private-sector jobs after a 31,600 gain in the previous month, while public-sector employment fell by 27,000, extending June's 31,000 decline. By industry, employment increased in wholesale and retail trade, finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+18,000), professional, scientific and technical services (+17,000), and construction (+16,000). In contrast, jobs declined in public administration (-15,000) and agriculture (-9,600). Regionally, employment rose for a third consecutive month in Ontario (+52,000), alongside gains in British Columbia (+18,000), Manitoba (+5,900), and Nova Scotia (+4,600). Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 60.9%.

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%.