Canada’s Unemployment Rate Hits Six-Month High of 6.9% in April 2026

Regional Insights from the April 2026 Labour Force Survey 

Ontario was the only province that saw a meaningful increase in employment in April, having added 42,000 jobs. However, this only partially made up for the 67,000 jobs the province lost in January. The unemployment rate in Ontario decreased by 0.1 percentage points but remains high at 7.5%. 

Nova Scotia, the only other province to see an increase in employment, added 700 jobs in April. 

Quebec saw the steepest decline in employment in April, losing 43,000 jobs. The unemployment rate rose to 6.2%, up 0.8 percentage points. So far this year, the province has lost 91,000 jobs, with most losses concentrated in Montreal. 

Other provinces where employment declined included Newfoundland and Labrador (-5,200), Saskatchewan (-4,000), New Brunswick (-2,000), and Manitoba (-1,600). 

Provincial Unemployment Rates Across Canada in April 2026 

Here are the provincial unemployment rates in Canada, based on StatsCan data from April 2026:   

Alberta: 7.0% 

British Columbia: 6.8% 

Manitoba: 5%   

New Brunswick: 7.2% 

Newfoundland and Labrador: 10% 

Nova Scotia: 6.3% 

Ontario: 7.5% 

Prince Edward Island: 8% 

Quebec: 6.2% 

Saskatchewan: 5.6% 

Changes in Provincial Unemployment from March to April 2026  

Employment Changes by Demographic Group

Youth unemployment (15 to 24 years) grew slightly to 14.3% in April.  

Among core-aged (25 to 54 years) workers, the unemployment rate for women held steady at 5.9%, showing no change over March 2026 or April 2025. However, more core working aged men joined the job seeker pool, and unemployment among this group increased by 0.3 percentage points to 6.1%. 

For older workers (55+), unemployment rate remained unchanged over the previous month at 4.9%. 

CMA Insights 

Where you choose to live in Canada can have a significant effect on your job search. Statistics Canada notes that of the 10 Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with the highest unemployment, six are in southern Ontario. They include London (9.2%), Barrie (9.2%), Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (9%), Oshawa (8.5%), Toronto (8.2%), and Windsor (8.1%). 

Statistics Canada has previously stated that the ongoing economic uncertainty related to tariffs on exports to the United States is contributing to the higher employment rate. The manufacturing industry, which has a significant footprint in Ontario, has been heavily impacted by tariffs. 

Layoffs due to budget cuts in the post-secondary education sector have also contributed to higher unemployment rates. 

Another reason for the high unemployment rate is sheer population density. More people in a smaller area result in steep competition for jobs. For example, Toronto has the highest population of newcomers in any Canadian city. This means job competition among newcomers can create more challenging conditions.  

Conversely, the CMAs with the lowest rate of unemployment were Québec City and Saguenay (both in Quebec) at 3.3%. 

Belleville – Quinte West in Ontario saw the sharpest increase in unemployment rate year-over-year, rising from 1.9% in April 2025 to 6.6% in April 2026. Other CMAs where unemployment rate grew sharply in the last year were London, Ontario, Nanaimo, BC, and Moncton, New Brunswick.

Expert resources to help immigrants get jobs in Canada

Canada’s job market provides a wealth of opportunity for newcomers, but it is only that — an opportunity.

To take full advantage, recent and prospective immigrants can leverage free government-funded resources and programs. We recently partnered with Canada InfoNet, a government-funded pre-arrival employment support program, to bring you two expert guides on transitioning to a career in Canada:

• Transitioning to the Canadian job market
• How to find a career mentor in Canada

The outlook on Canadian construction and infrastructure

Ruairi Spillaine, Outpost Recruitment and Moving2Canada founder, analyzes what’s happening in the construction sector in Canada.

“Canada’s construction sector continues to provide opportunities to experienced candidates who can differentiate themselves in a tighter employment market. While commercial and residential sectors are slower, institutional buildings and a buoyant infrastructure sector continue to drive employment opportunities from coast to coast. Meanwhile, Canada’s industrial sector including nuclear, mining and renewables is set for a strong 2026.“

 

If you are interested in working in Canada’s construction sector, Outpost helps motivated candidates find suitable jobs in Canada.

The agency works with general contractors, subcontractors, developers, and consultants who are hiring across senior management, operations, project management, site, design, quality, and commercial personnel.

Outpost Recruitment is actively looking for candidates for projects across Canada. View the latest job postings here.

How to get a job in Canada

If you’re looking for a job in Canada here are some steps you can take to land that sweet, sweet Canadian job offer.

• Get your resume in good shape. This crucial step is often left down the list of job seekers’ priorities, despite being arguably the most important step of all. Read our Canadian resume guide to get going.
• Start looking at open opportunities. Some companies are still hiring. Don’t believe us? Head over to our Jobs Board, populated daily with new positions across Canada.
• Build your network. You can assemble a team to help you in your job search. With ongoing physical distancing and travel restrictions, technology is your friend here. Read our networking guide, written by award-winning entrepreneur Ruairi Spillane, for expert advice.

Here’s a popular webinar from recruitment expert and Moving2Canada founder, Ruairi Spillane, about how to create the best resume for the Canadian jobs market:

New and improved Jobs Board

We have worked hard over recent weeks to ramp up the number and range of job postings on our Jobs Board.

We also have a number of other resources for helping you find your career in Canada. You’ll find broad-stroke information that will arm you with the knowledge you need to succeed, as well as industry-specific insights into finding jobs by industry, such as teaching.

Want to dig deeper into the Canada Jobs Report data? Try these interactive tools, courtesy of StatsCan.

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