Canada unemployment rate rises to 6.7% in October
Canada’s unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 6.7% in October 2026, while employment fell by 4,700, a 0.0% change. Statistics Canada released the Labour Force Survey, October 2026, on November 6, 2026. If you’re tracking Canadian jobs or wages, the release also reports average hourly wages of $37.89, up $0.83 from a year earlier.
What does the Labour Force Survey, October 2026 report?
Quick answer: The unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 6.7%, while employment fell by 4,700, or 0.0%, in October 2026. Average hourly wages reached $37.89, up $0.83 or 2.2% from a year earlier; wage figures are not seasonally adjusted.
- Release date: Statistics Canada released the survey on November 6, 2026.
- Employment: The October 2026 decrease was 4,700, or 0.0%.
- Wages: The year-over-year increase was $0.83, or 2.2%, to $37.89.
- Next step: Use Statistics Canada’s October 2026 release for the official results.
Who is affected
Statistics Canada released the Labour Force Survey for October 2026 on November 6, 2026. Employment fell by 4,700 jobs, a 0.0% change, while the unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 6.7%.
The employment level was 21,100,000 in October 2026. The survey covers people aged 15 and older who live in Canada, including temporary residents with a valid work or study permit, their families and refugee claimants, as well as permanent residents and the Canadian-born, so the results also describe the job market newcomers face.
The Labour Force Survey, October 2026, reported a higher unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24, which rose 0.7 percentage points to 13.7%. Students and employers planning summer hiring can check the Canada Summer Jobs 2027 application window.
Employment increased by 2,900 in Newfoundland and Labrador, a 1.2% rise in October 2026, while it decreased in Alberta (-24,000; -0.9%). Employers who hire temporary foreign workers can also read about the longer low-wage LMIA duration, and workers can see the 2027 EI premium rate.
Key facts
The table below sums up the main October 2026 figures. Average hourly wages rose year over year, while the unemployment rate was lower than a year earlier and below its April peak.
| Measure | Period and comparison | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | October 2026, monthly change | 6.7%, up 0.2 percentage points |
| Employment | October 2026, monthly change | -4,700 (0.0%) |
| Employment rate | October 2026, monthly change | 60.5%, down 0.1 percentage points |
| Youth unemployment rate (15 to 24) | October 2026, monthly change | 13.7%, up 0.7 percentage points |
| Average hourly wages | October 2026, year over year, not seasonally adjusted | $37.89, up $0.83 (2.2%) |
| Unemployment rate | October 2026, year over year | down 0.2 percentage points; below the 6.9% peak of April 2026 |
| Next release | November 2026 data | December 4, 2026 |
The wage figures are not seasonally adjusted, so they don’t account for regular seasonal patterns. October’s unemployment rate was lower than its recent peak, even as it rose from the previous month.
The October release date was November 6, 2026. Employment was little changed, falling by 4,700 (0.0%), while the employment rate slipped 0.1 percentage points to 60.5%. The employment rate measures the share of people aged 15 years and older who were employed. Read these figures alongside the unemployment rate: they track different measures of the labour market.
Changes varied by age group and industry in October:
- People aged 15 to 24: The unemployment rate rose 0.7 percentage points to 13.7%.
- People aged 55 and older: The unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 5.5%.
- Wholesale and retail trade: Employment fell by 29,000 (1.0%).
- Construction: Employment increased by 16,000 (0.9%).
- Educational services: Employment increased by 15,000 (1.0%).
The number of private sector employees fell by 53,000 (-0.4%) in October, the first decline since February, while the number of public sector employees rose by 50,000 (+1.1%). Among the 1.5 million people who were unemployed in October, 23.7% had been searching for work for 27 weeks or more, up from 21.5% a year earlier.
What to do next
If you need the October 2026 employment results, use Statistics Canada’s release and its linked data table.
Open the official release. Statistics Canada released the Labour Force Survey for October 2026 on November 6, 2026. The release reports the October results, including employment and unemployment figures.
Open the linked data table. Use Table 14-10-0287-01 to see the figures for Canada and each province.
Search for work. Job seekers, including newcomers, can search current openings on Job Bank, the Government of Canada job board.
Check Employment Insurance if you lost your job. Review eligibility and how to apply on the Employment Insurance page on Canada.ca.
Watch the next release. Statistics Canada will publish the next Labour Force Survey on December 4, 2026. See how the survey works.
Last checked: November 8, 2026. Figures can be revised; confirm on Statistics Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries lost or gained jobs in Canada in October 2026?
Wholesale and retail trade lost jobs, with employment down 29,000 jobs in October 2026, a 1.0% decline. Construction added 16,000 jobs and educational services added 15,000 that month.
How did employment change across Canadian provinces in October 2026?
Employment fell by 24,000 in Alberta and 1,300 in Prince Edward Island in October 2026. It rose by 12,000 in British Columbia and 2,900 in Newfoundland and Labrador.
What was Canada’s employment rate in October 2026?
The employment rate was 60.5%, down 0.1 percentage points and a third consecutive monthly decline; it measures the share of people aged 15 and older who were employed.
When is the next Labour Force Survey release?
Statistics Canada will release the next Labour Force Survey on December 4, 2026. The November 2026 data will reflect labour market conditions during the week of November 8 to 14.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: The Daily — Labour Force Survey, October 2026
- Statistics Canada: Table 14-10-0287-01, Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted
- Statistics Canada: Labour Force Survey (LFS) survey information
- Government of Canada: Job Bank
- Government of Canada: Employment Insurance benefits
