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Canada's unemployment rate fell for the second consecutive month in June 2026, dropping 0.1 percentage points to 6.5 percent, according to Statistics Canada's latest Labour Force Survey. It is the second consecutive monthly decline, bringing the rate back to where it stood in January.
Employment was nearly flat, rising by just 18,000 jobs, or 0.1 percent. That follows a much stronger gain of 88,000 jobs in May. Compared with June 2025, employment is up 99,000 jobs. Most of that gain has come from full-time positions.
The employment rate, which measures the share of the population aged 15 and older who are employed, increased by 0.1 percentage points to 60.8 percent in June.
For newcomers looking for their first job in Canada (or who’re trying to switch to a new role), this slow-but-sure improvement in the job market comes as a good sign.
Key Takeaways
Unemployment rate: 6.5 percent, down from 6.6 percent in May 2026
Employment: Up 18,000 (+0.1 percent) in June, and up 99,000 (+0.5 percent) year-over-year
Wages: Average hourly wages up 3.3 percent year-over-year to $37.20
Industries seeing gains: Accommodation and food services
Industries seeing losses: Manufacturing, agriculture, and utilities
Top provincial gains in employment: Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Quebec
Regional Insights from the June 2026 Labour Force Survey
Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Quebec all saw meaningful employment gains in June. Nova Scotia added 4,800 jobs, a 0.9 percent increase, after two months of flat employment. The unemployment rate there fell 0.6 percentage points to 6.5 percent. Saskatchewan added 2,900 jobs, partly recovering from losses in the previous two months. Its unemployment rate held at 6.1 percent.
In Quebec, employment was up by 14,000 jobs in June, its second consecutive monthly gain after a combined loss of 91,000 jobs over the first four months of the year. The unemployment rate sat at 5.4 percent, down from a recent high of 6.2 percent in April.
Ontario’s employment was little changed in June. The unemployment rate held at 7.0 percent, unchanged from May but down 0.8 percentage points from a year earlier. British Columbia employment was also little changed after a strong May. The unemployment rate fell 0.3 percentage points to 6.5 percent.
Alberta added jobs at a rate of 0.3 percent in June, but the unemployment rate rose 0.4 percentage points to 7.0 percent, as more people entered the labour market looking for work.
Provincial Unemployment Rates Across Canada in June 2026
Here are the provincial unemployment rates from Statistics Canada’s June 2026 Labour Force Survey:
Alberta: 7.0 percent
British Columbia: 6.5 percent
Manitoba: 5.4 percent
New Brunswick: 7.3 percent
Newfoundland and Labrador: 8.2 percent
Nova Scotia: 6.5 percent
Ontario: 7.0 percent
Prince Edward Island: 7.6 percent
Quebec: 5.4 percent
Saskatchewan: 6.1 percent
Changes in Provincial Unemployment from May to June 2026
Employment Changes by Demographic Group
Youth unemployment continued to improve in June. The unemployment rate for Canadians aged 15 to 24 fell 0.7 percentage points to 12.7 percent, the lowest level since January 2026. That said, it remains over 2 percentage points over the pre-pandemic average. Employment among youth rose 33,000, or 1.2 percent. The improvement in June was driven largely by part-time work.
Among core-aged workers aged 25 to 54, the unemployment rate held steady for both women at 5.5 percent and men at 5.7 percent in June.
For workers aged 55 and older, employment fell by 47,000, or 1.1 percent, pushing the unemployment rate up 0.2 percentage points to 5.2 percent. However, both employment and unemployment among this group were little changed on a year-over-year basis.
CMA Insights
Where you plan to settle in Canada can have a significant effect on your job search. In Toronto, the unemployment rate held at 6.9 percent in June. That is the lowest rate the city has seen since mid-2024.
Montreal’s unemployment rate fell 0.6 percentage points to 5.9 percent in June, putting it down 1.1 percentage points year-on-year. In Vancouver, the unemployment rate held steady at 6.6 percent, though it is down 0.7 percentage points compared with the same month last year.
Looking at a broader set of cities, using Statistics Canada’s three-month moving averages, Kelowna, British Columbia recorded the highest unemployment rate in June at 9.2 percent, followed by Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo and Oshawa, both at 8.5 percent.
At the other end of the scale, Saguenay, Quebec had the lowest unemployment rate among tracked cities at 3.4 percent, with Quebec City close behind at 4.3 percent.
The Job Market Is Moving Faster
The job finding rate measures how many people moved from unemployment into employment over the month. In June, that figure was 24.3 percent, up from 21.3 percent a year earlier. This is good news for newcomers to Canada.
It means more people who were looking for work in May had found employment by June. Combined with a stable layoff rate of 0.6 percent, in line with pre-pandemic norms, the picture is one of a labour market that has stabilized since a difficult first quarter, even if overall gains remain modest.
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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:
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.“
Moving2Canada and Outpost Recruitment Founder, Ruairi Spillane
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.
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.
We have helped thousands of workers worldwide navigate the job search, immigration and settlement process in Canada.
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Stephanie is a content creator who writes on legal and personal finance topics, specializing in immigration and legal topics. She earned a Bachelor of Laws and a Diploma in Financial Planning in Australia. Stephanie is now a permanent resident of Canada and a full-time writer at Moving2Canada.
Citation
Ford, Stephanie. "Canada’s Unemployment Rate Fell to 6.5 Percent in June 2026."Moving2Canada.Last modified July 13, 2026.https://moving2canada.com/work/finding-jobs/labour-market-report/.
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