Canada employment falls in September as unemployment reaches 6.5%
Statistics Canada reported that employment fell by 68,000 in September and the unemployment rate rose to 6.5%.
Event / data period: 2026-09
Published: · Updated:
The decline was concentrated among young people and women aged 25 to 54. Employment also fell in education, health care and social assistance, and manufacturing.
The participation rate fell to 64.8%, its lowest level since December 1997 outside the pandemic period. Statistics Canada said population ageing largely explained the year-over-year decrease.
Data
September labour estimates
Statistics Canada estimates from its September Labour Force Survey.
- People employed in Canada
- 21,105,000 people
- 2026-09 · Estimate
Methodology
Employment is the seasonally adjusted September 2026 estimate; the survey reference week was September 13–19.
Updated:
Official announcement
Statistics Canada released its labour market estimates for September 2026.
- · Occurred
September Labour Force Survey released
Statistics Canada released its labour market estimates for September 2026.
Methodology
This records Statistics Canada’s official release dated October 9, 2026.
Updated:
Subjects and places
Subject proposals
- EconomySuggested
- Preserved editorial category/topic; broad candidate onlywww150.statcan.gc.ca ↗
- EmploymentSuggested
- Subject suggested from the title or summary: employmentwww150.statcan.gc.ca ↗
- Labor marketSuggested
- Subject suggested from the title or summary: employmentwww150.statcan.gc.ca ↗
- UnemploymentSuggested
- Subject suggested from the title or summary: unemploymentwww150.statcan.gc.ca ↗
Geographic references
Only source-provided geographic references are shown. Opening an external map is optional. Optional story maps use OpenStreetMap. Opening a map sends your IP address and this site’s address to the map provider; location data remains readable as text without loading the map.
- Canada · Place role: Coverage · Place type: Country or area · Location precision: RegionalEvidence
- Explicit preserved editorial country/region; no city or national centroid inferredwww150.statcan.gc.ca ↗