Canada’s employment rate held at 60.6% in March 2026, with 21,051,400 people employed and average hourly wages rising 4.7% year over year to $37.73, according to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey. The unemployment rate stayed at 6.7%, while job vacancies fell to 495,125 in December 2025. This article presents verified employment data covering national indicators, provincial rates, vacancies, and sector performance from 2024 to 2026.
Key Canada Employment Statistics
- Canada employed 21,051,400 people in March 2026 at a 60.6% employment rate.
- The unemployment rate stayed at 6.7% with 1,515,200 Canadians out of work.
- Average hourly wages climbed 4.7% year over year to $37.73 in March 2026.
- Job vacancies dropped to 495,125 in December 2025, down from a 3.0% vacancy rate a year earlier.
- Quebec recorded the lowest provincial unemployment at 5.3%, while Newfoundland and Labrador posted 10.0%.
How Many People Are Employed in Canada?
Canada had 21,051,400 employed persons in March 2026, an increase of 14,100 from February 2026. The employment rate sat at 60.6%, almost identical to the long-run average of 60.45% measured between 1976 and 2026.
The recovery climbed 8.7 percentage points from the April 2020 pandemic low of 51.9%. Full-time employment fell by 1,100, while part-time work added 15,200 positions.
| Indicator | March 2026 | February 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Employment rate | 60.6% | 60.6% |
| Employed persons | 21,051,400 | 21,037,300 |
| Monthly employment change | +14,100 | -83,900 |
| Full-time change | -1,100 | -108,400 |
| Part-time change | +15,200 | +24,500 |
| Participation rate | 64.9% | 64.9% |
Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, March 2026
What Is the Current Unemployment Rate in Canada?
The Canadian unemployment rate held at 6.7% in March 2026 with 1,515,200 unemployed persons. Youth unemployment for those aged 15 to 24 fell to 13.8% from 14.1% in February. The participation rate stayed at 64.9%.
The unemployed-to-vacancy ratio reached 3.3 in October 2025, up from 2.8 a year earlier. This means 3.3 job seekers competed for every available position.
| Metric | March 2026 | February 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% | 6.7% |
| Unemployed persons | 1,515,200 | 1,514,200 |
| Youth unemployment (15–24) | 13.8% | 14.1% |
| Unemployed per vacancy (Oct 2025) | 3.3 | 3.3 |
Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey via Trading Economics; Job Vacancy and Wage Survey
Looking at Canada immigration statistics alongside labour data helps explain population-driven changes in the workforce.
Canada Employment Statistics by Province
Quebec posted the lowest 2024 unemployment rate at 5.3%, while Newfoundland and Labrador held the highest at 10.0%. Ontario’s 7.0% rate was the highest since 2014, excluding the pandemic period. Unemployment rose in every Canadian province during 2024.
The unemployed-to-vacancy ratio in Quebec stood at 2.3 in October 2025, the lowest of any province. Newfoundland and Labrador recorded 7.2 unemployed per vacancy.
| Province | 2024 Unemployment Rate | October/November 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 10.0% | 10.1% |
| Prince Edward Island | — | 8.5% |
| Ontario | 7.0% | Modest decrease |
| Alberta | 7.0% | 6.5% (Nov) |
| Saskatchewan | — | 5.5% |
| Quebec | 5.3% | Lowest ratio |
| Canada (national) | — | 6.7% (Mar 2026) |
Source: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, April 2025; Robert Half citing Statistics Canada
For workers planning a relocation, comparing cost of living across Canada helps decide whether a lower-unemployment province makes financial sense.
How Much Are Canadians Earning?
Average hourly wages reached $38.49 in February 2026, with a 4.7% year-over-year increase to $37.73 reported in March 2026. Wage growth outpaced the 2.4% inflation rate recorded in 2024 for the second straight year.
The federal minimum wage rose to $17.60 per hour in October 2025 from $17.20 previously. Manufacturing wages averaged $32.11 per hour, while non-farm payroll wages averaged $33.04.
| Wage Metric | Figure | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Average hourly wages | $38.49 CAD | February 2026 |
| YoY wage increase | +4.7% | March 2026 |
| Federal minimum wage | $17.60 CAD/hour | October 2025 |
| Manufacturing wages | $32.11 CAD/hour | Latest |
| Bachelor’s degree+ vacancies | $44.00 CAD/hour | Q3 2025 |
| High school or less vacancies | $21.85 CAD/hour | Q3 2025 |
Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey and Job Vacancy and Wage Survey, 2025–2026
Workers exploring highest paying job categories can match their skills against the wage premium for degree-required roles.
Canada Employment Statistics: Job Vacancies
Canada had 495,125 job vacancies in December 2025 at a 2.6% vacancy rate, down from 3.0% a year earlier. Ontario lost 7,800 vacancies in Q3 2025 to reach 171,800. Alberta dropped 3,800 to 59,500 vacancies.
Manufacturing was the only sector with a year-over-year vacancy rate increase in October 2025. Ontario’s job vacancies fell 24.4% across all industries except public administration during 2024.
| Vacancy Metric | Figure | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Total job vacancies | 495,125 | December 2025 |
| Job vacancy rate | 2.6% | October 2025 |
| Vacancy rate (year prior) | 3.0% | October 2024 |
| Ontario vacancies | 171,800 | Q3 2025 |
| Alberta vacancies | 59,500 | Q3 2025 |
| Ontario unemployed-to-vacancy ratio | 3.1 | 2024 |
Source: Statistics Canada Job Vacancy and Wage Survey, December 2025
Job seekers tracking openings often pair this data with remote work statistics to find roles outside their home province.
Canada Employment by Industry Sector
Services-producing industries added 142,000 jobs (+0.8%) between January and October 2025. Goods-producing sectors lost 54,000 positions (-1.3%) over the same period. Construction drove most of the goods-sector decline.
Health care and social assistance gained 46,000 jobs in November 2025 alone, the largest single-month sector increase. Federal public administration lost 16,500 jobs (-4.3%) year over year in October 2025.
| Industry | Change (Jan–Oct 2025) | Notable Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Services-producing | +142,000 (+0.8%) | Consistent gains |
| Goods-producing | -54,000 (-1.3%) | Net decline |
| Health care (Nov 2025) | +46,000 (+1.6%) | Largest monthly gain |
| Federal public admin | -16,500 (-4.3%) | Workforce reduction |
| Ontario education (Mar 2025–Mar 2026) | -38,700 | College closures |
| Ontario construction (2024) | -26,500 (-4.4%) | Largest Ontario loss |
Source: Robert Half citing Statistics Canada; FAO Ontario; Job Bank Ontario, 2024–2026
Tech workers monitoring sector trends can compare these figures with tech industry employment data for a fuller picture of where hiring stays strong.
Wage Premium by Education Level
Vacancies requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher offered $44.00 per hour on average in Q3 2025. Vacancies requiring high school or less offered $21.85 per hour. The 2.01× wage premium reflects skills-based pay differentiation.
Despite the higher wages, degree-holder job seekers faced an unemployed-to-vacancy ratio of 6.1, while trade certificate holders saw a ratio of 1.9. More candidates compete for high-skill roles, while trade qualifications stay in shorter supply.
Source: Statistics Canada Job Vacancy and Wage Survey, Q3 2025
Canadians weighing further education can review online learning trends alongside the wage premium data when planning a career switch.
FAQs
What is Canada’s current employment rate?
Canada’s employment rate was 60.6% in March 2026, with 21,051,400 people employed. This figure matches the long-run average of 60.45% measured between 1976 and 2026, according to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey.
What is the unemployment rate in Canada?
The unemployment rate stayed at 6.7% in March 2026, with 1,515,200 Canadians unemployed. Youth unemployment for ages 15 to 24 was 13.8%, down from 14.1% in February 2026.
How much do Canadians earn per hour?
Average hourly wages reached $38.49 in February 2026, with a 4.7% year-over-year increase to $37.73 in March 2026. The federal minimum wage rose to $17.60 per hour in October 2025.
Which province has the lowest unemployment rate?
Quebec recorded the lowest provincial unemployment rate at 5.3% in 2024, while Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest at 10.0%. Ontario’s 7.0% rate was the highest since 2014, excluding the pandemic period.
How many job vacancies exist in Canada?
Canada had 495,125 job vacancies in December 2025 at a 2.6% vacancy rate, down from 3.0% in October 2024. The unemployed-to-vacancy ratio reached 3.3 job seekers per opening.
Sources
Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey
Trading Economics Canada Employment Data
