Citizens Economy Report›Unemployment & Job Market
Job Market Report · June 2026

Canada's Unemployment Crisis: Still Above Normal

At 6.5%, Canada's unemployment rate is nearly a full point above the pre-pandemic average — with youth at 12.7%, manufacturing shedding 61,000 jobs, and Ontario stuck at 7.0%. Here's what the numbers actually mean for Canadians.

National rate
6.5%
June 2026 · ↓ 0.1 pts
Youth (15–24)
12.7%
Nearly 2× national avg
Mfg jobs lost
−61K
Since Jan 2025 · tariffs
Avg hourly wage
$37.2
+3.3% year-over-year
Participation rate
65%
Employment rate
60.8%
Highest province
Newfoundland: 8.2%
Lowest province
Quebec: 5.4%

Explore the Data

Pre-pandemic avg
5.7%
2017–2019
COVID-19 peak
9.7%
Annual avg 2020
June 2026
6.5%
↓ 0.4 pts year-over-year
Key insight: Canada has not returned to pre-pandemic unemployment levels. The 2022 low of 5.3% was brief — unemployment has climbed steadily since, now sitting nearly 1 full point above the 2017–2019 average. Record immigration and slower job creation are the primary drivers.

Who is responsible?

Unemployment is shaped by decisions made by elected officials and public servants at every level:

  • • Federal: Employment Insurance design, immigration levels, trade policy (tariffs costing 61,000 manufacturing jobs)
  • • Provincial: Minimum wage, training programs, social assistance (Ontario Works $733/month — unchanged since 2018)
  • • Municipal: Economic development, zoning, transit that determines whether people can access jobs

These are policy choices — not acts of nature. The officials making them can be held accountable.

Hold Decision-Makers Accountable

Unemployment policy is set by people — politicians, ministers, and public servants. Rate the officials responsible for employment, training, and trade in your community.

Rate Employment Officials →🛠️ Find Employment Help →

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey (LFS), June 2026 release, July 10, 2026. Table 14-10-0287-01. All figures seasonally adjusted unless noted. National totals exclude territories. Wage data not seasonally adjusted. Historical annual averages: Macrotrends / Statistics Canada. Last updated: July 2026. Full methodology →