Canada’s Unemployment Rate Fell to 6.6% in May 2026

Regional Insights from the May 2026 Labour Force Survey 

Ontario led provincial gains, adding 42,000 jobs (+0.5 percent) in May. Combined with April’s gains, the province has added 84,000 jobs over the past two months. The unemployment rate in Ontario fell 0.5 percentage points to 7.0 percent. This is the lowest level since September 2024.  

British Columbia added 25,000 jobs (+0.9 percent) in May. This followed a combined loss of 39,000 jobs in February and March. The unemployment rate in the province held steady at 6.8percent.  

Alberta added 14,000 jobs (+0.5 percent) in May. On a year-over-year basis, Alberta’s employment grew by 104,000 (+4.1 percent), more than any other province. The unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage points to 6.6 percent. 

Quebec gained 13,000 jobs (+0.3 percent) in May, after a net decline of 91,000 from January to April. The unemployment rate in Quebec fell 0.6 percentage points to 5.6 percent, with fewer people looking for jobs. 

Saskatchewan was the only province to see a meaningful decline in employment, losing 6,100 jobs (-1.0 percent) in May. The unemployment rate rose 0.6 percentage points to 6.2 percent. 

Provincial Unemployment Rates Across Canada in May 2026 

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

Alberta: 6.6 percent 

British Columbia: 6.8 percent 

Manitoba: 5.5 percent 

New Brunswick: 7.2 percent 

Newfoundland and Labrador: 9.6 percent 

Nova Scotia: 7.1 percent 

Ontario: 7.0 percent 

Prince Edward Island: 6.7 percent 

Quebec: 5.6 percent 

Saskatchewan: 6.2 percent 

Changes in Provincial Unemployment from April to May 2026  

Employment Changes by Demographic Group 

Youth unemployment (ages 15 to 24) fell 0.9 percentage points to 13.4 percent in May, the first decline since January. In May, the youth unemployment rate was 1.2 percentage points below the September 2025 high of 14.6 percent. This is still well above the pre-pandemic average rate for youth unemployment (10.8 percent).  

Among core-aged workers (25 to 54 years old), the unemployment rate fell for both women (down 0.4 percentage points to 5.5 percent) and men (down 0.4 percentage points to 5.7 percent) in May.  

For people 55 and older, both employment and the unemployment rate (5 percent) held almost steady. 

CMA Insights 

The unemployment rate in Toronto fell 1.1 percentage points to 6.8 percent in May. Not only is this a sharp drop from its May and July 2025 peak of 9 percent, but it is also the lowest unemployment level the city has seen since November 2023. 

Montreal’s unemployment rate also fell, dropping 1.2 percentage points in May, after increasing in April. The rate now sits at 6.5 percent.  

In Vancouver, the unemployment rate decreased 0.6 percentage points to 6.4 percent. 

Remote Work Continues to Disappear 

Just 11.4 percent of employed Canadians worked exclusively from home in May 2026, down from 12.4 percent a year earlier and nearly half the 18.7 percent recorded in May 2022. The shift back to in-person work has been gradual but consistent since the pandemic.  

About 1 in 10 workers (9.8 percent) had a hybrid arrangement in May, a share that has held roughly steady since 2023. 

In contrast, the percentage of people working exclusively outside their home was 78.8 percent in May 2026. It was up year-on-year from 77.6 percent in May 2025. 

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.

Join the Moving2Canada Community

We have helped thousands of workers worldwide navigate the job search, immigration and settlement process in Canada.
Get job hunting resources, application checklists, exclusive offers from our partners, and much more just by joining the Moving2Canada community.