Employment rate in Canada
Canada: Employment rate was 60.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
60.1%
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
72nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
63.0%
in 2008
All-time low
57.5%
in 1993
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate in Canada, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Canada recorded 60.1% for employment rate in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Canada peaked at 63.0% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 57.5%, in 1993.
Canada ranks 72nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Employment rate in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 59.4% | — |
| 1992 | 58.0% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 57.5% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 58.0% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 58.3% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 58.0% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 58.6% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 59.3% | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 60.1% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 60.8% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 60.7% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 61.3% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 62.0% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 62.2% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 62.2% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 62.5% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 63.0% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 63.0% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 61.3% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 61.3% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 61.5% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 61.6% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 61.8% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 61.4% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 61.3% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 61.0% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 61.6% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 61.7% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 62.1% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 57.9% | -6.7% |
| 2021 | 60.3% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 61.8% | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 61.8% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 60.6% | -1.9% |
| 2025 | 60.1% | -0.9% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 60.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 58.9%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.6% | 57.5% | 60.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 61.9% | 60.7% | 63.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.5% | 61.0% | 62.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 60.4% | 57.9% | 61.8% | 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 rate in Canada?
- Employment rate in Canada was 60.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 63.0% in 2008.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.5% in 1993.
- How does Canada rank for employment rate?
- Canada ranks 72nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.