Canada’s unemployment rate rose to 6.7 per cent in October, a six-month high, as the country lost jobs for a third straight month, Statistics Canada reported on Friday, 6 November 2026.
The rate was up from 6.5 per cent in September, a rise of 0.2 points, and was last higher at 6.9 per cent in April 2026. The economy lost a net 4,700 jobs in October, after losing 110,000 jobs across August and September combined — 42,000 in August and 68,000 in September. Employment is down about 46,000 so far in 2026, and only about 17,000 jobs have been added over the past 12 months.
The private sector drove the losses, shedding about 53,000 jobs — its first drop since February — while the public sector added 50,000. Full-time jobs fell by 18,100. Wholesale and retail trade lost 28,800 jobs, the biggest fall of any sector. Alberta lost 24,000 jobs, with its unemployment rate up 0.9 points to 7.3 per cent.
Young Canadians are bearing the brunt. Youth unemployment, for ages 15 to 24, jumped to 13.7 per cent, up 0.7 points. Average hourly wages rose 2.2 per cent year on year, and the employment rate slipped to 60.5 per cent. Of the 1.5 million unemployed Canadians, about 24 per cent have been out of work for 27 weeks or more.
The report lands in a difficult moment. The Bank of Canada raised its key rate to 2.5 per cent in late October, and the United States imposed 50 per cent tariffs on some Canadian goods in August. Three straight months of job losses, a six-month-high unemployment rate and a youth jobless rate near 14 per cent add up to a labour market under real pressure.
It comes in a busy week for Canadian news, from the Canada submarine deal with Germany to Prime Minister Carney’s four-country Europe and Asia trip. The jobs numbers will be watched closely in Ottawa — and by every Canadian looking for work.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.