The unemployment rate in Canada rose to 6.7% in February 2026 from the lowest in sixteen months of 6.5% in the previous month and above the expected 6.6% increase, reflecting an increment in the number of people searching for work and a contraction in employment. The increase followed the prior month's decline and reflected a 56,700 rise in the number of unemployed to over 1.51 million. The labour force contracted by roughly 27,200, pushing the participation rate down to 64.9% from 65.0%. Net employment fell by 84,000 to 21.04 million, continuing the recent downward trend. Losses were driven by a 108,000 decline in full-time employment, partly offset by a 24,500 increase in part-time work. source: Statistics Canada

Unemployment Rate in Canada increased to 6.70 percent in February from 6.50 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Canada averaged 7.56 percent from 1966 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 14.20 percent in May of 2020 and a record low of 2.90 percent in June of 1966. This page provides - Canada Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Canada Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Canada increased to 6.70 percent in February from 6.50 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Canada is expected to be 6.90 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Canada Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 6.30 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-06 01:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 6.5% 6.8% 6.8% 6.8%
2026-03-13 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 6.7% 6.5% 6.6% 6.7%
2026-04-10 12:30 PM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 6.7% 6.90%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Wages 38.49 38.06 CAD Feb 2026
Employed Persons 21037.30 21121.20 Thousand Feb 2026
Employment Change -83.90 -24.80 Thousand Feb 2026
Employment Rate 60.60 60.80 percent Feb 2026
Full Time Employment Chg -108.40 44.90 Thousand Feb 2026
Job Vacancies 492475.00 506490.00 Sep 2025
Participation Rate 64.90 65.00 percent Feb 2026
Labour Costs 131.71 130.84 points Dec 2025
Minimum Wages 17.60 17.20 CAD/Hour Oct 2025
Non Farm Payrolls 18240.00 18245.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Part Time Employment Chg 24.50 -69.70 Thousand Feb 2026
Population 41.65 41.26 Million Dec 2025
Labor Productivity 104.42 103.48 points Sep 2025
Unemployed Persons 1514.20 1457.50 Thousand Feb 2026
Unemployment Rate 6.70 6.50 percent Feb 2026
Average Weekly Earnings YoY 1.94 2.30 percent Dec 2025
Wages 32.87 32.52 CAD/Hour Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 32.83 32.56 CAD/Hour Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.10 12.80 percent Feb 2026


Canada Unemployment Rate
In Canada, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
6.70 6.50 14.20 2.90 1966 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Canada Jobless Rate Rebounds From 16-Month Low
The unemployment rate in Canada rose to 6.7% in February 2026 from the lowest in sixteen months of 6.5% in the previous month and above the expected 6.6% increase, reflecting an increment in the number of people searching for work and a contraction in employment. The increase followed the prior month's decline and reflected a 56,700 rise in the number of unemployed to over 1.51 million. The labour force contracted by roughly 27,200, pushing the participation rate down to 64.9% from 65.0%. Net employment fell by 84,000 to 21.04 million, continuing the recent downward trend. Losses were driven by a 108,000 decline in full-time employment, partly offset by a 24,500 increase in part-time work.
2026-03-13
Canada Jobless Rate Drops to 16-Month Low
The unemployment rate in Canada fell to 6.5% in January 2026 from 6.8% in the previous month, undershooting market expectations of 6.8% and marking the lowest level in 16 months, as fewer people searched for work. The decline marked a partial reversal of the prior month’s increase and reflected a 94,000 drop in the number of unemployed to around 1.5 million. The labour force contracted by roughly 94,000, pushing the participation rate down to 65.0% from 65.4%. Net employment fell by 25,000 to 21.12 million, interrupting the recent run of gains. Losses were driven by a 70,000 decline in part-time employment, partly offset by a 45,000 increase in full-time work.
2026-02-06
Canada Unemployment Rate Edges Higher
The unemployment rate in Canada rose to 6.8% in December 2025 from 6.5% in the previous month and above market expectations of 6.6%, as more people entered the job market in search of work. The uptick partially reversed a cumulative 0.6-percentage-point decline recorded over the prior two months. The number of unemployed rose by 73,000 to 1.6 million, while the labor force increased by 81,000, pushing the participation rate up to 65.4%. Net employment rose by 8,200 to 21.14 million, marking a fourth consecutive month of improvement. Gains were driven by a 50,200 increase in full-time employment, offset by a 42,000 decline in part-time work.
2026-01-09