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- calendar_today November 6, 2026
Unemployment Increases in October, says Statistics Canada
Canada’s unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 6.7% in October 2026, according to new data from Statistics Canada. This increase comes as more people, particularly younger Canadians, entered the labour market seeking work.
Expectations Versus Reality: Job Market Surprises
Economists had predicted a positive turn for the labour market, with a Reuters poll forecasting a gain of 13,600 jobs in October. However, the nation instead experienced a net loss of 4,700 jobs during the month.
Youth Unemployment Reaches 13.7%
The rise in Canada’s unemployment rate was driven in part by a jump in youth unemployment. Statistics Canada reported that the unemployment rate among individuals aged 15-24 increased by 0.7 percentage points from September, reaching 13.7%. Young students faced particular challenges, with an unemployment rate of 13.5%, compared to 12.3% among youth not attending school. Additionally, 63.3% of youth were enrolled in school in October, up from 62.2% a year earlier.
Core-Aged Worker Unemployment Steady
For core-aged workers (ages 25 to 54), unemployment rates remained static in October. The rate was 5.8% for men and 5.3% for women within this group, indicating stability compared to previous months.
Sectoral Breakdown: Losses in Retail and Gains in Construction
The majority of job losses were concentrated in the retail and wholesale trade sectors, with 29,000 positions cut in October. Contrasting these losses, the construction industry added 16,000 jobs, while the educational sector saw an increase of 15,000 positions, helping to offset the overall employment decline.
Private and Public Sector Shifts
Private sector employment fell by 53,000 positions in October, marking its first decline since February. Conversely, employment in the public sector rose by 50,000 jobs during the same period.
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Source: globalnews.ca.
