Labour Force Survey The Labour Force Survey provides estimates of employment and unemployment which are among the timeliest and important measures of performance of the Canadian economy. The LFS estimates are the first of the major monthly economic data series to be released. The Canadian Labour Force Survey was developed following the Second World War to satisfy a need for reliable and timely data on the labour market. Information was urgently required on the massive labour market changes involved in the transition from a war to a peace-time economy. Objective The main objective of the LFS is to divide the working-age population into three mutually exclusive classifications - employed, unemployed, and not in the labour force - and to provide descriptive and explanatory data on each of these. LFS data are used to produce the well-known unemployment rate as well as other standard labour market indicators such as the employment rate and the participation rate. The LFS also provides employment estimates by industry, occupation, public and private sector, hours worked and much more, all cross-classifiable by a variety of demographic characteristics. Estimates are produced for Canada, the provinces, the territories and a large number of sub-provincial regions. For employees, wage rates, union status, job permanency and workplace size are also produced. These data are used by different levels of government for evaluation and planning of employment programs in Canada. Regional unemployment rates are used by Employment and Social Development Canada to determine eligibility, level and duration of insurance benefits for persons living within a particular employment insurance region. The data are also used by labour market analysts, economists, consultants, planners, forecasters and academics in both the private and public sector. Collection This public use microdata file contains non-aggregated data for a wide variety of variables collected from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). It contains both personal characteristics for all individuals in the household and detailed labour force characteristics for household members 15 years of age and over. The personal characteristics include age, sex, marital status, educational attainment, and family characteristics. Detailed labour force characteristics include employment information such as class of worker, usual and actual hours of work, employee hourly and weekly wages, industry and occupation of current or most recent job, public and private sector, union status, paid or unpaid overtime hours, job permanency, hours of work lost, job tenure, and unemployment information such as duration of unemployment, methods of job search and type of job sought. Labour force characteristics are also available for students during the school year and during the summer months as well as school attendance whether full or part-time and the type of institution. LFS revisions: Labour force surveys are revised on a periodic basis. The most recent revisions took place in 2025. As of January 2025, LFS microdata and estimates have been adjusted to reflect population counts from the 2021 Census, with revisions going back to 2011. Additionally, several changes were made to key variables on the PUMFs: Survey weights (FINALWT) have been updated to use 2021 Census population control totals. Sub-provincial geography (CMA) has been updated to the 2021 Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) boundaries. All industry data (NAICS_21) was revised to use the latest standard, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2022. Coding enhancements were applied to improve longitudinal consistency of detailed National Occupational Classification data (NOC_10 and NOC_43). Data were revised to use the gender of person instead of sex (GENDER).

Number of employees by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and data type (seasonally adjusted, trend-cycle and unadjusted), last 5 months. 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.

The number of employed people in Canada stood at 20.72 million people in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the number rose by 9.74 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. From 2024 to 2026, the number will increase by 220,000 people.The indicator describes the number of employed people. This refers to persons who during a pre-defined period, either: a) performed wage or salary work, b) held a formal attachment to their job (even if not currently working), (c) performed for-profit work for personal or family gain , (d) were with an enterprise although temporarily not at work for any specific reason.

Unemployment Rate in Canada increased to 7.10 percent in August from 6.90 percent in July of 2025. This dataset provides - Canada Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Overview: Each quarter, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) publishes Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) statistics on Open Government Data Portal, including quarterly and annual LMIA data related to, but not limited to, requested and approved TFW positions, employment location, employment occupations, sectors, TFWP stream and temporary foreign workers by country of origin. The TFWP does not collect data on the number of TFWs who are hired by an employer and have arrived in Canada. The decision to issue a work permit rests with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and not all positions on a positive LMIA result in a work permit. For these reasons, data provided in the LMIA statistics cannot be used to calculate the number of TFWs that have entered or will enter Canada. IRCC publishes annual statistics on the number of foreign workers who are issued a work permit: https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/360024f2-17e9-4558-bfc1-3616485d65b9. Please note that all quarterly tables have been updated to NOC 2021 (5 digit and training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) based). As such, Table 5, 8, 17, and 24 will no longer be updated but will remain as archived tables. Frequency of Publication: Quarterly LMIA statistics cover data for the four quarters of the previous calendar year and the quarter(s) of the current calendar year. Quarterly data is released within two to three months of the most recent quarter. The release dates for quarterly data are as follows: Q1 (January to March) will be published by early June of the current year; Q2 (April to June) will be published by early September of the current year; Q3 (July to September) will be published by early December of the current year; and Q4 (October to December) will be published by early March of the next year. Annual statistics cover eight consecutive years of LMIA data and are scheduled to be released in March of the next year. Published Data: As part of the quarterly release, the TFWP updates LMIA data for 28 tables broken down by: TFW positions: Tables 1 to 10, 12, 13, and 22 to 24; LMIA applications: Tables 14 to 18; Employers: Tables 11, and 19 to 21; and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP): Tables 25 to 28. In addition, the TFWP publishes 2 lists of employers who were issued a positive or negative LMIA: Employers who were issued a positive LMIA by Program Stream, NOC, and Business Location (https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/90fed587-1364-4f33-a9ee-208181dc0b97/resource/b369ae20-0c7e-4d10-93ca-07c86c91e6fe); and Employers who were issued a negative LMIA by Program Stream, NOC, and Business Location (https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/f82f66f2-a22b-4511-bccf-e1d74db39ae5/resource/94a0dbee-e9d9-4492-ab52-07f0f0fb255b). Things to Remember: 1. When data are presented on positive or negative LMIAs, the decision date is used to allocate which quarter the data falls into. However, when data are presented on when LMIAs are requested, it is based on the date when the LMIA is received by ESDC. 2. As of the publication of 2022Q1- 2023Q4 data (published in April 2024) and going forward, all LMIAs in support of 'Permanent Residence (PR) Only' are included in TFWP statistics, unless indicated otherwise. All quarterly data in this report includes PR Only LMIAs. Dual-intent LMIAs and corresponding positions are included under their respective TFWP stream (e.g., low-wage, high-wage, etc.) This may impact program reporting over time. 3. Attention should be given for data that are presented by ‘Unique Employers’ when it comes to manipulating the data within that specific table. One employer could be counted towards multiple groups if they have multiple positive LMIAs across categories such as program stream, province or territory, or economic region. For example, an employer could request TFWs for two different business locations, and this employer would be counted in the statistics of both economic regions. As such, the sum of the rows within these ‘Unique Employer’ tables will not add up to the aggregate total.

Number of employees by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and type of employee, last 5 years.

A positive LMIA will be issued by Service Canada if an assessment indicates that hiring a temporary foreign worker (TFW) will have a positive or neutral impact on the Canadian labour market. A positive LMIA must be obtained by an employer before hiring a TFW for a specific occupation. This list excludes all personal names, such as employers of caregivers or business names that use or include personal names. For this reason, the list is not complete and does not reflect all employers who requested or received an LMIA. The data provided in this report tracks TFW positions on Labour Market Impact Assessments only, not TFWs that are issued a work permit or who enter Canada. The decision to issue a work permit rests with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); therefore, not all positions approved result in a work permit or a TFW entering Canada. The data includes all positions on all positive LMIAs as issued, and therefore also includes any position that may have been subsequently cancelled by the employer. For information on the number of work permits issued, please consult Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Facts and Figures: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/menu-fact.asp. Note: From Q1 2018 to Q3 2023 data, LMIAs in support of Permanent Residence (PR) were excluded from published employer lists. As of the publication of Q4 2023 employer lists (published in April 2024) and going forward, all LMIAs in support of 'Permanent Residence (PR) Only' will be included in the employer lists. However, previous employer lists will not be updated. Should an employer wish to contact ESDC concerning the accuracy of this information, please contact NA-TFWP-PTET@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.

Employment Rate in Canada decreased to 60.70 percent in July from 60.90 percent in June of 2025. This dataset provides - Canada Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Number of persons in the labour force (employment and unemployment) and unemployment rate, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), gender and age group.

Average percentage of women and men in management positions, by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), business employment size, type of business, business activity and majority ownership, first quarter of 2025.

Canada GDP Nowcast: saar: YoY: Contribution: Labour Market: Employment: sa data was reported at 40.827 % in 12 May 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 41.438 % for 05 May 2025. Canada GDP Nowcast: saar: YoY: Contribution: Labour Market: Employment: sa data is updated weekly, averaging 40.211 % from Jan 2019 (Median) to 12 May 2025, with 332 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 56.920 % in 01 Nov 2021 and a record low of 0.000 % in 06 Jul 2020. Canada GDP Nowcast: saar: YoY: Contribution: Labour Market: Employment: sa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Canada – Table CA.CEIC.NC: CEIC Nowcast: Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

LFS data are used to produce the well-known unemployment rate as well as other standard labour market indicators such as the employment rate and the participation rate. The LFS also provides employment estimates by industry, occupation, public and private sector, hours worked and much more, all cross-classifiable by a variety of demographic characteristics. Estimates are produced for Canada, the provinces, the territories and a large number of sub-provincial regions. For employees, data on wage rates, union status, job permanency and establishment size are also produced. These data are used by different levels of government for evaluation and planning of employment programs in Canada. Regional unemployment rates are used by Employment and Social Development Canada to determine eligibility, level and duration of insurance benefits for persons living within a particular employment insurance region. The data are also used by labour market analysts, economists, consultants, planners, forecasters and academics in both the private and public sector.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) uses the models of the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) and the National Occupational Classification (NOC, 2021 version) to develop projections of future trends in the numbers of job openings and job seekers by occupation at the national level. The projections allow for identifying those occupations that may face labour shortage or labour surplus conditions over the medium term. The latest projections cover the 2024 to 2033 period. For more information, explore: Canadian Occupational Projections System – ESDC

Number of job vacancies and payroll employees, job vacancy rate, and average offered hourly wage by province and territory, last 5 quarters.

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.

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a household survey carried out monthly by Statistics Canada. Since its inception in 1945, the objectives of the LFS have been to divide the working-age population into three mutually exclusive categories in relation to the labour market – employed, unemployed, and not in the labour force – and to provide descriptive and explanatory data on each of these groups. Data from the survey provide information on major labour market trends, such as shifts in employment across industrial sectors, hours worked, labour force participation and unemployment rates. This public use microdata file (PUMF) contains non-aggregated data for a wide variety of variables collected from the LFS. This product is for users who prefer to do their own analysis by focusing on specific subgroups in the population or by cross-classifying variables that are not in LFS catalogued products. The data have been modified to ensure that no individual or business is directly or indirectly identified. Variables most likely to lead to identification of an individual are removed from the microdata file or are collapsed to broader categories.

A dataset that explores Green Card sponsorship trends, salary data, and employer insights for canada in the U.S.

Graph and download economic data for Job Postings on Indeed in Canada (IHLIDXCA) from 2020-02-01 to 2025-08-22 about jobs and USA.

The Canadian recruiting industry's financial success is intrinsically linked to the overall economy and unemployment rate. A healthy labour market is fueling revenue growth for recruiting agencies, which are progressively using technology to add more value to their services. The shift to remote and hybrid work arrangements placed additional need on agency services, with firms tasked with bridging evolving worker expectations and retention concerns in a decentralized workforce. As a result of economic growth and changing needs across the workplace, industry revenue is anticipated to climb at a CAGR of 5.4% to $11.4 billion through the end of 2025, including growth of 3.8% in 2025 alone.Recruiting and employment services are undergoing a transformation, driven by vast improvements in technology and the increasing use of online resources. Professional networking sites and job portals like LinkedIn and Indeed are bridging the gap between employers and job seekers. Successful recruiting agencies are capitalizing on digital tools and networks to become more efficient. Agencies are using software to scan resumes and cover letters for specific keywords and qualifications, enhancing the quality of placements and improving efficiency. The introduction of AI has also begun to reshape employment and recruiting, with professionals leveraging AI-powered tools to streamline sourcing and initial screening, leading to faster results and higher placement rates for clients. While this digital shift will produce efficiency gains for both employers and candidates, the implementation of digital tools will pressure profitability across the industry as tech implementation will be predicated on skilled staff who command high wages.Moving forward, a tight labour market is set to continue supporting growth in the industry. With an expanding global economy despite the introduction of volatility from trade risks, Canadians will continue to search for better, higher-paying jobs. Rising corporate profit will translate into more job opportunities, providing businesses with additional resources to outsource their recruitment activities. Agencies will serve as the leading conduit between employers and employees as the labour force evolves in the coming years, with a growing share of older workers engendering shortages in sectors like healthcare. Through 2030, industry revenue is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% to $14.0 billion.

Each issue contains analysis of the latest labour market data for Alberta, released monthly, on the same day as Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey.