Employment in Canada
Canada: Employment was 20,490 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Canada, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Canada recorded 20,490 for employment in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Canada peaked at 20,577 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 13,105, in 1992.
Canada ranks 32nd of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 13,261 | — |
| 1992 | 13,105 | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 13,162 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 13,434 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 13,667 | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 13,784 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 14,079 | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 14,433 | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 14,813 | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 15,183 | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 15,362 | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 15,731 | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 16,126 | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 16,392 | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 16,610 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 16,912 | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 17,270 | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 17,518 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 17,262 | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 17,483 | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 17,764 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 18,011 | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 18,259 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 18,322 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 18,470 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 18,584 | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 18,996 | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 19,316 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 19,702 | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 18,595 | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 19,533 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 20,262 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 20,577 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 20,454 | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 20,490 | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13,749 | 13,105 | 14,813 | 9 |
| 2000s | 16,437 | 15,183 | 17,518 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,491 | 17,483 | 19,702 | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,985 | 18,595 | 20,577 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More work & labour data for Canada
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3334 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6552 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,234 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,715 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 26,798 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 26,814 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 53,612 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Canada?
- Employment in Canada was 20,490 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 20,577 in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,105 in 1992.
- How does Canada rank for employment?
- Canada ranks 32nd out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.