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

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.

The number of people who are unemployed as a percentage of the active labour force (i.e. employed and unemployed).

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.

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.

Youth Unemployment Rate in Canada decreased to 12.90 percent in February from 13.60 percent in January of 2025. This dataset provides - Canada Youth Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Unemployment rates of 25- to 29-year-olds, by educational attainment, Canada and jurisdictions. This table is included in Section E: Transitions and outcomes: Labour market outcomes of the Pan Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP). PCEIP draws from a wide variety of data sources to provide information on the school-age population, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, transitions, and labour market outcomes. The program presents indicators for all of Canada, the provinces, the territories, as well as selected international comparisons and comparisons over time. PCEIP is an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Education Statistics Council, a partnership between Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada that provides a set of statistical measures on education systems in Canada.

In 2023, about 10.4 percent of 15 to 24 year-old were unemployed in Canada. This is an increase from the previous year when youth unemployment stood at 10.3 percent.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Total: 15 Years or over for Canada (LRHUTTTTCAM156S) from Jan 1955 to Feb 2025 about harmonized, Canada, unemployment, persons, and rate.

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

The youth unemployment rate in Canada increased by 0.5 percentage points (+4.95 percent) in 2023 in comparison to the previous year. In total, the youth unemployment rate amounted to 10.59 percent in 2023. This increase was preceded by a declining youth unemployment rate.The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce aged 15 to 24 that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Mexico and United States.

Key information about Canada Unemployment Rate

• Canada Unemployment Rate dropped to 6.60% in Jan 2025, from the previously reported figure of 6.70% in Dec 2024.
• Canada Unemployment Rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 1976 to Jan 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.

Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: Quebec data was reported at 5.300 % in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.400 % for Jan 2025. Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: Quebec data is updated monthly, averaging 9.000 % from Jan 1976 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 590 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.200 % in Apr 2020 and a record low of 3.800 % in Nov 2022. Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: Quebec 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. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Female: From 25 to 54 Years for Canada (LRUN25FECAM156S) from Jan 1976 to Feb 2025 about 25 to 54 years, females, Canada, unemployment, and rate.

Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: New Brunswick data was reported at 7.500 % in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.400 % for Jan 2025. Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: New Brunswick data is updated monthly, averaging 10.700 % from Jan 1976 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 590 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.500 % in Mar 1985 and a record low of 5.800 % in Mar 2023. Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: New Brunswick 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. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Table depicting the rate of unemployment within the Employment Insurance Regions across Canada.

Number of employees and unemployment rate by population centre and rural area, gender and age group, annual.

From 2006 to 2024, the unemployment among residents of Canada was always higher for landed immigrants. In 2024, 7.2 percent of landed immigrants in Canada were unemployed. In comparison, 5.6 percent of people born in Canada were unemployed in that same year.

Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: Ontario data was reported at 7.300 % in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.600 % for Jan 2025. Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: Ontario data is updated monthly, averaging 7.000 % from Jan 1976 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 590 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.200 % in May 2020 and a record low of 4.700 % in Oct 1989. Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: Ontario 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. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: Nova Scotia data was reported at 6.600 % in Feb 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.900 % for Jan 2025. Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: Nova Scotia data is updated monthly, averaging 9.600 % from Jan 1976 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 590 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.700 % in Dec 1993 and a record low of 5.300 % in Jan 2023. Canada LFS: Unemployment Rate: sa: Nova Scotia 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. [COVID-19-IMPACT]