The statistic shows the unemployment rate in Canada from 2019 to 2023, with projections up until 2029. In 2023, the unemployment rate in Canada was at around 5.41 percent. Canada’s economy Three-quarter of Canada’s workforce is employed in the services sector, with the other two sectors, agriculture and industry, accounting for the rest of Canada’s employment. The country’s main export and import partner is the United States. Although both export and import figures have increased over the last few years, the trade balance of goods in Canada – i.e. the value of Canada’s exports minus the value of its imports – has slumped dramatically since the economic crisis hit in 2008. In 2009, for the first time in a decade, Canada reported a trade deficit, and the figures are still struggling to recover. Additionally, Canada’s public debt has been increasing since the crisis. Although a few key figures are still not back to the usual level, Canada and its economy seem to have more or less bounced back from the crisis; as can be seen above, the unemployment rate is gradually decreasing, for example, and gross domestic product / GDP in Canada has been increasing steadily. Canada is thus among the countries with the largest proportion of global gross domestic product / GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity. Canada is among the leading trading nations worldwide, and an important part of its economy is the export of oil. The country hosts significant oil resources, in fact, its capacity is the third-largest after those of Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

Unemployment Rate in Canada increased to 7 percent in May from 6.90 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - Canada Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2023, 5.4 percent of the labor force in Canada was unemployed. This is a slight increase from the previous year, when unemployment stood at 5.3 percent.

Unemployment rate, participation rate, and employment rate by educational attainment, gender and age group, annual.

The unemployment rate in Canada increased by one percentage points (+18.45 percent) in 2024 in comparison to the previous year. In total, the unemployment rate amounted to 6.45 percent in 2024. The unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population currently without work but in search of employment. The unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed, children, or retirees.

Regional unemployment rates used by the Employment Insurance program, by effective date, current month.

In 2023, the unemployment rate in Canada stood at 5.4 percent. People with a university degree were less affected by unemployment, while the highest unemployment rate was registered among the population with a high school diploma or less.

Key information about Canada Unemployment Rate

• Canada Unemployment Rate remained the same at 6.60% in Feb 2025, from the previously reported figure of 6.60% in Jan 2025.
• Canada Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 1976 to Feb 2025, with an average rate of 7.60%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 14.20% in May 2020 and a record low of 4.80% in Jul 2022.
• The data is reported by reported by Statistics Canada.
• In the latest reports, Canada Population reached 41.29 million people in Jun 2024.

Historical chart and dataset showing Canada unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Historical chart and dataset showing Canada youth unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Number of persons in the labour force (employment and unemployment), unemployment rate, participation rate and employment rate by province, gender and age group. Data are presented for 12 months earlier, previous month and current month, as well as year-over-year and month-to-month level change and percentage change. Data are also available for the standard error of the estimate, the standard error of the month-to-month change and the standard error of the year-over-year change.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Canada was reported at 6.273 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Youth Unemployment Rate in Canada increased to 14.20 percent in May from 14.10 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - Canada Youth Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: Annual data was reported at 6.300 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.400 % for 2023. Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: Annual data is updated yearly, averaging 7.600 % from Dec 1976 (Median) to 2024, with 49 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.000 % in 1983 and a record low of 5.300 % in 2022. Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: Annual data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Canada. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.G021: Labour Force Survey: Unemployment.

In 2023, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest unemployment rate in Canada. That year, it had a ten percent unemployment rate. In comparison, Québec had the lowest unemployment rate at 4.5 percent.

Nunavut

Nunavut is the largest and most northern province of Canada. Their economy is powered by many industries which include mining, oil, gas, hunting, fishing, and transportation. They have a high amount of mineral resources and many of their jobs come from mining, however, the territory still suffers from a high unemployment rate, which has fluctuated since 2004. The lack of necessary education, skills, and mobility are all factors that play a part in unemployment. Most of the population identifies as Inuit. Their official languages include English, French, and several Inuit languages. The capital is Iqaluit, which is their largest community and only city. The climate in Nunavut is a polar climate due to its high latitude, and as a result, it rarely goes above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Unemployment in Canada

The unemployment rate in Canada had been decreasing since 2009, but increased to 9.7 percent in 2020 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Since 2006, landed immigrants have faced higher unemployment rates compared to those born in Canada. Youth unemployment in Canada has fluctuated since 1998, but has always remained in the double digits. Additionally, the average duration of unemployment in Canada in 2023 was about 17.4 weeks.

Canada CA: Unemployment Rate data was reported at 5.413 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.283 % for 2022. Canada CA: Unemployment Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 7.551 % from Dec 1969 (Median) to 2023, with 54 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.037 % in 1983 and a record low of 4.700 % in 1969. Canada CA: Unemployment Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Number of persons in the labour force (employment and unemployment) and not in the labour force, unemployment rate, participation rate and employment rate by Atlantic region, Central provinces, Western provinces, Indigenous population (First Nations or Métis) and Non-Indigenous population, sex, and age group, last 5 years.

Unemployment with basic education, female (% of female labor force with basic education) in Canada was reported at 13.1 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Unemployment with basic education, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Canada was reported at 5.415 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Unemployment, total (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Canada was reported at 13.84 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Canada - Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.