The number of unemployed persons in Canada decreased to 1457.50 Thousand in January of 2026 from 1551.70 Thousand in December of 2025. Unemployed Persons in Canada averaged 1274.11 Thousand from 1976 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 2720.50 Thousand in May of 2020 and a record low of 691.50 Thousand in March of 1976. source: Statistics Canada

Unemployed Persons in Canada is expected to be 1650.00 Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Canada Unemployed Persons is projected to trend around 1570.00 Thousand in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Hourly Wages 38.02 38.01 CAD Dec 2025
Employed Persons 21121.20 21146.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Employment Change -24.80 10.10 Thousand Jan 2026
Employment Rate 60.80 60.90 percent Jan 2026
Full Time Employment Chg 44.90 50.20 Thousand Jan 2026
Job Vacancies 492475.00 506490.00 Sep 2025
Participation Rate 65.00 65.40 percent Jan 2026
Labour Costs 130.98 130.57 points Sep 2025
Minimum Wages 17.60 17.20 CAD/Hour Oct 2025
Non Farm Payrolls 18245.00 18276.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Part Time Employment Chg -69.70 -41.30 Thousand Jan 2026
Population 41.65 41.26 Million Dec 2025
Labor Productivity 104.42 103.48 points Sep 2025
Unemployed Persons 1457.50 1551.70 Thousand Jan 2026
Unemployment Rate 6.50 6.80 percent Jan 2026
Average Weekly Earnings YoY 2.50 2.00 percent Nov 2025
Wages 32.56 32.40 CAD/Hour Nov 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 32.48 32.37 CAD/Hour Nov 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 12.80 13.30 percent Jan 2026


Canada Unemployed Persons
In Canada, unemployed persons are individuals who are without a job and actively seeking to work.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
1457.50 1551.70 2720.50 691.50 1976 - 2026 Thousand Monthly
Volume, SA