Unemployment rate in Canada
Canada: Unemployment rate was 6.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Canada, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Canada is 6.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.8% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Canada peaked at 11.4% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2022.
That places Canada 63rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.7% | 7.6% | 11.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.1% | 6.2% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.9% | 5.7% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.9% | 5.3% | 9.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More work & labour data for Canada
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- 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)
- 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, total (% of total population ages 15-6 80.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 83.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 76.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Canada?
- Unemployment rate in Canada was 6.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 11.4% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2022.
- How does Canada rank for unemployment rate?
- Canada ranks 63rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Unemployment 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 labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.