Monthly unemployment rates in Canada
Canada: Monthly unemployment rates was 6.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025. ▲ Rising
Monthly unemployment rates in Canada, 1955–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Analysis
In 2025, monthly unemployment rates in Canada stood at 6.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
The figure is up 7.5% on the previous year and down 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly unemployment rates in Canada peaked at 12.03 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1983 and was at its lowest, 3.38 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, in 1966.
That places Canada 8th out of 32 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 71 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.11 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.43 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.07 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5 |
| 1960s | 5.05 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.38 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.7 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.33 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 8.38 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.39 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 12.03 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.56 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.59 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 11.4 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.06 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6.17 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 8.45 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.95 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.68 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 8.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.84 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.28 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 9.69 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 5 Sweden 8.87 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 6 Chile 8.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 7 France 7.72 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 9 Costa Rica 6.74 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 10 Luxembourg 6.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 11 Denmark 6.36 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
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 monthly unemployment rates in Canada?
- Monthly unemployment rates in Canada was 6.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest monthly unemployment rates recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 12.03 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1983.
- What is the lowest monthly unemployment rates recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.38 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1966.
- How does Canada rank for monthly unemployment rates?
- Canada ranks 8th out of 32 countries with data for 2025.
- Is monthly unemployment rates rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Monthly unemployment rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 71 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployment rate is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. The unemployment rate is calculated as the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force (i.e., the unemployed plus those in employment). The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.