economyMonthly
What is Canada's unemployment rate?
6.7% of Canadians looking for work can't find it.
6.7%
Unemployment rate
Jan 2026
The unemployment rate measures the share of the labour force that is without work and actively seeking employment. Statistics Canada publishes this monthly through the Labour Force Survey.
Unemployment rate over time
Canada's unemployment rate has fluctuated significantly over the past decade. It spiked to 13.7% in May 2020 during COVID-19 lockdowns, dropped to a historic low of 4.9% in June 2022, then climbed steadily as interest rate hikes cooled the economy.
Canada unemployment rate, annual average (%)
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0287-01
Unemployment by province
Unemployment varies dramatically across provinces. As of Jan 2026, NL had the highest rate at 9.2%.
Unemployment rate by province, Jan 2026 (%)
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey