Canada sheds 4,700 jobs in October as unemployment hits six-month high

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 07, 2026

Photo courtesy: CTV News Northern Ontario

Canada’s economy lost 4,700 jobs in October, pushing the unemployment rate to a six-month high of 6.7%, according to Statistics Canada.

The latest Labour Force Survey, released on Friday, November 6, showed that unemployment rose from 6.5% in September. More Canadians also entered the job market to look for work.

Although the monthly job decline was relatively small, it marked the third consecutive month of employment losses.

Job losses continue for third straight month

Canada lost 42,000 jobs in August and another 68,000 in September. With October’s decline, total employment losses reached approximately 115,000 over three months.

The employment rate also fell to 60.5%, down 0.1 percentage points from September. This marked its third consecutive monthly decrease.

Meanwhile, the number of Canadians looking for work increased by approximately 33,000 in October.

The latest figures suggest that job seekers are facing growing competition as employment opportunities remain limited.

Statistics Canada also reported that fewer than one in five unemployed Canadians in September found work in October.

Private sector records sharp job losses

The private sector lost 53,000 jobs in October, marking its first monthly decline since February.

However, public sector employment increased by 50,000 positions, partly offsetting the losses.

Employment in wholesale and retail trade fell by 29,000 jobs, making it one of the hardest-hit industries.

In contrast, construction added 16,000 jobs, while educational services gained 15,000.

The figures show that employment conditions varied across industries, even as overall job growth remained weak.

Young Canadians face higher unemployment

Young workers experienced one of the sharpest increases in unemployment.

The jobless rate among Canadians aged 15 to 24 climbed to 13.7% in October, up 0.7 percentage points from September.

Meanwhile, unemployment among workers aged 55 and older rose to 5.5%.

For Canadians aged 25 to 54, the unemployment rate remained unchanged. It stood at 5.8% for men and 5.3% for women.

These figures show that younger Canadians faced greater difficulty finding work during the month.

Alberta loses jobs while B.C. records gains

Employment trends also differed across provinces.

Alberta recorded the largest provincial decline, losing 24,000 jobs in October.

Prince Edward Island also saw employment fall by 1,300 positions.

Meanwhile, British Columbia gained 12,000 jobs, while Newfoundland and Labrador added 2,900.

The provincial figures highlight differences in labour market conditions across the country.

Wage growth slows

Average hourly wages rose 2.2% from a year earlier, reaching C$37.89 in October.

However, annual wage growth slowed slightly from 2.3% in September.

The latest employment figures also fell short of economists’ expectations.

A Reuters survey had forecast an increase of approximately 13,600 jobs in October. Instead, the economy recorded a small decline.

According to Statistics Canada, employment has shown little overall growth over the past year, increasing by just 17,000 jobs, or 0.1%.

The agency also reported that October’s unemployment rate remained below the recent peak of 6.9% recorded in April 2026.