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.
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
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 80.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 68.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 60.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 76.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 63.1% (2025)
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.
Download this data
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.