Released: 2026-02-06
Select geography
Canada
Newfoundland and Labrador
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta
British Columbia
Employment level — Canada
21,121,000
January 2026
-0.1% 
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — Canada
6.5%
January 2026
-0.3 pts
(monthly change)
Employment level — N.L.
247,000
January 2026
1.6% 
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — N.L.
9.2%
January 2026
-1.3 pts
(monthly change)
Employment level — P.E.I.
96,000
January 2026
0.6%
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — P.E.I.
7.6%
January 2026
0.5 pts
(monthly change)
Employment level — N.S.
525,000
January 2026
0.1%
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — N.S.
6.9%
January 2026
0.5 pts
(monthly change)
Employment level — N.B.
410,000
January 2026
0.5%
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — N.B.
6.7%
January 2026
0.2 pts
(monthly change)
Employment level — Que.
4,670,000
January 2026
0.1%
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — Que.
5.2%
January 2026
-0.1 pts
(monthly change)
Employment level — Ont.
8,208,000
January 2026
-0.8%
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — Ont.
7.3%
January 2026
-0.6 pts
(monthly change)
Employment level — Man.
744,000
January 2026
0.1%
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — Man.
6.3%
January 2026
0.6 pts
(monthly change)
Employment level — Sask.
624,000
January 2026
1.0%
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — Sask.
5.3%
January 2026
-1.1 pts
(monthly change)
Employment level — Alta.
2,651,000
January 2026
0.8%
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — Alta.
6.4%
January 2026
-0.3 pts
(monthly change)
Employment level — B.C.
2,948,000
January 2026
0.1%
(monthly change)
Unemployment rate — B.C.
6.1%
January 2026
-0.2 pts
(monthly change)
Highlights
Employment edged down in January (-25,000; -0.1%) and the employment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points to 60.8%.
The unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5%, as fewer people searched for work.
In January, employment fell by 27,000 (-0.4%) among core-aged women (25 to 54 years old). There was little employment change among the other major demographic groups.
Fewer people were employed in manufacturing (-28,000; -1.5%), educational services (-24,000; -1.5%) and public administration (-10,000; -0.8%). At the same time, employment increased in information, culture and recreation (+17,000; +2.0%), business, building and other support services (+14,000; +2.1%), agriculture (+11,000; +4.5%) and utilities (+4,200; +2.5%).
Employment decreased in Ontario (-67,000; -0.8%), while it rose in Alberta (+20,000; +0.8%), Saskatchewan (+6,100; +1.0%) and Newfoundland and Labrador (+3,800; +1.6%). There was little change in the other provinces.
Average hourly wages among employees were up 3.3% (+$1.18 to $37.17) on a year-over-year basis in January, following growth of 3.4% in December (not seasonally adjusted).
Employment edges down in January
Overall employment edged down in January (-25,000; -0.1%), following little change in December.
Chart 1
Employment rate down in January 2026
Infographic 1
Employment rate by age group, January 2026
In January, a decrease in part-time employment (-70,000; -1.8%) was partly offset by a gain in full-time work (+45,000; +0.3%). Compared with 12 months earlier, overall employment was up by 134,000 (+0.6%), driven by gains in full-time work (+149,000; +0.9%).
The employment rate—the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who were employed—fell 0.1 percentage points to 60.8%. This was the first decline in the employment rate since August 2025.
The number of private sector employees fell by 52,000 (-0.4%) in January, partly offsetting a net increase of 128,000 (+0.9%) in the last three months of 2025. There was little change in the number of public sector employees (+13,000; +0.3%) and self-employed workers (+14,000; +0.5%) in January.
Unemployment rate falls to 6.5%, as fewer people search for work
The unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5% in January, driven by a decline in the number of people searching for work (-94,000; -6.1%). The unemployment rate in January was the lowest since September 2024 and was down 0.6 percentage points from the recent high of 7.1% recorded in August and September 2025.
Chart 2
Unemployment rate falls to 6.5% in January 2026
The labour force participation rate—the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who were employed or looking for work—decreased 0.4 percentage points to 65.0% in January, following an increase of 0.2 percentage points in December. The decline in January was concentrated in Ontario.
For more information about the composition of the population that is not participating in the labour force, see the “Population not participating in the labour force” text box.
Decreases in unemployment rate across major demographic groups
The unemployment rate fell across most major demographic groups in January, largely reflecting declines in the number of job searchers.
Infographic 2
Unemployment rate by age group, January 2026
Among core-aged (25 to 54 years old) men, the unemployment rate decreased 0.6 percentage points to 5.4% in January, the lowest level since July 2024. Employment among core-aged men held steady in January, but there were fewer searching for work (-49,000; -10.4%).
The unemployment rate for core-aged women fell 0.2 percentage points to 5.7% in January, partially offsetting a 0.3 percentage point increase in the previous month. There were decreases in January both in the number of core-aged women who were employed (-27,000; -0.4%) and looking for work (-23,000; -5.4%).
Among youth (15 to 24 years old), the unemployment rate fell 0.5 percentage points to 12.8% in January, as the number of employed youth was little changed and fewer searched for work. The youth unemployment rate was 1.8 percentage points below the recent high of 14.6% recorded in September 2025.
The unemployment rate among people aged 55 and older was unchanged at 5.1% in January.
Population not participating in the labour force
There were 12.4 million people aged 15 and older who were not participating in the labour force in January, meaning they were neither employed nor looking for work. This number was up 2.7% from January 2025 (not seasonally adjusted).
Population aging and other socio-economic changes, such as trends in school enrolment and labour market conditions, can have an impact on labour force participation. People may be outside the labour force at different ages for a variety of reasons.
For youth aged 15 to 24, the vast majority who were not in the labour force in January reported their main activity was attending school (89.0%). This share was up 2.2 percentage points from 12 months earlier.
Among core-aged men and women who were not in the labour force in January, 25.9% were caring for children and 23.2% had an illness or disability. For people aged 55 and older, most said they were retired (79.9%). These shares were little changed compared with January 2025.
In addition, people may not participate in the labour force because they believe no work is available (in their area or suited to their skills) and as a result, they do not search for work. In January, only 0.3% of those aged 15 and older outside the labour force were discouraged job seekers (representing 34,000 people). This share was up slightly (+0.1 percentage points) compared with 12 months earlier.
Fewer people employed in manufacturing
The number of people working in manufacturing fell by 28,000 (-1.5%) in January, bringing employment down to levels last observed in August 2025. The decline in January was concentrated in Ontario. On a year-over-year basis, overall employment in manufacturing was down 51,000 (-2.7%).
Chart 3
Employment change by industry, January 2026
There were also fewer workers in educational services (-24,000; -1.5%) and public administration (-10,000; -0.8%) in January. Employment in both industries was little changed on a year-over-year basis.
On the other hand, employment increased in information, culture and recreation (+17,000; +2.0%) in January, continuing an upward trend that began in September 2025. On a year-over-year basis, employment in this industry was up 30,000 (+3.6%) in January.
Employment also rose in business, building and other support services (+14,000; +2.1%) in January, the first increase since October 2024. Employment in this industry had previously followed a downward trend through most of 2025. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in business, building and other support services was down 38,000 (-5.3%) in January.
Employment down in Ontario
Employment in Ontario fell by 67,000 (-0.8%) in January. Despite the employment decrease, the unemployment rate fell by 0.6 percentage points to 7.3% in January, as fewer people searched for work.
Map 1
Unemployment rate by province and territory, January 2026
The labour force participation rate in Ontario fell by 1.0 percentage points to 64.4% in January, more than offsetting the 0.6 percentage point increase recorded in December. Across major age groups, the decline in the participation rate in Ontario in January was largest among youth aged 15 to 24 (-2.7 percentage points to 58.9%).
In Alberta, employment increased by 20,000 (+0.8%), bringing net gains since January 2025 to 86,000 (+3.4%). The unemployment rate in the province edged down to 6.4% in January.
Employment also rose in Saskatchewan (+6,100; +1.0%) and in Newfoundland and Labrador (+3,800; +1.6%) in January. These gains contributed to decreases in the unemployment rate in both provinces (down 1.1 percentage points to 5.3% in Saskatchewan and down 1.3 percentage points to 9.2% in Newfoundland and Labrador).
In the spotlight: More permanent core-aged employees in industries dependent on US demand plan to leave their job in the next 12 months
Shifting economic conditions can shape workers’ intentions to stay or leave their current jobs, and employees tend to be more likely to seek other opportunities when labour market conditions are favourable. At the same time, uncertainty in a particular industry or line of work can push employees to make plans to leave.
According to additional data collected in the Labour Force Survey in January, 7.1% of permanent employees aged 15 to 69 planned to leave their job in the next 12 months, up 1.0 percentage points from 12 months earlier. This increase coincided with a decline in the unemployment rate over the same period (from 6.7% to 6.5%).
Among permanent employees, youth aged 15 to 24 (13.3%) were more likely to plan to leave their job over the next 12 months, compared with their counterparts aged 25 to 54 (5.8%) and aged 55 to 69 (7.9%). From January 2025 to January 2026, the share rose the most among youth (+2.5 percentage points).
For youth, returning to school (32.1%) and career change or advancement (29.2%) were the most common main reasons for planning to leave their job. Meanwhile, core-aged employees were most often motivated by career change or advancement (38.8%) and concerns about low pay (17.1%).
Certain Canadian industries face greater exposure to tariff-related trade disruptions, creating uneven levels of uncertainty among workers. In January 2026, 5.4% of permanent core-aged employees in industries dependent on US demand for Canadian exports were planning to leave their jobs in the next 12 months, up 1.5 percentage points from January 2025. The corresponding share also rose in other industries, but to a smaller extent (from 5.2% to 5.9%).
In prior years, the share of permanent employees who were planning to leave their job had been lower among employees working in industries dependent on US demand for Canadian exports. These employees are more likely to have full-time hours and above-average wages relative to other industries.
Further, among core-aged permanent employees who were planning to leave their jobs, two thirds (65.8%) of those in industries dependent on US demand for exports reported that they had actively engaged in activities to look for a new job in the previous four weeks, such as answering job ads or contacting employers. The corresponding proportion in other industries was lower, at 48.6%.
Sustainable Development Goals
On January 1, 2016, the world officially began implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—the United Nations’ transformative plan of action that addresses urgent global challenges over the next 15 years. The plan is based on 17 specific sustainable development goals.
The Labour Force Survey is an example of how Statistics Canada supports the reporting on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. This release will be used in helping to measure the following goals:
Note to readers
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates for January reflect labour market conditions during the reference week of January 11 to 17, 2026.
The sample size of the LFS is approximately 65,000 households, representing over 100,000 respondents each month. For more information, see the Guide to the Labour Force Survey.
This analysis focuses on differences between estimates that are statistically significant at the 68% confidence level. Monthly estimates may show more sampling variability than trends observed over longer periods. For more information, see “Interpreting Monthly Changes in Employment from the Labour Force Survey.”
LFS estimates at the Canada level do not include the territories.
The LFS estimates are the first in a series of labour market indicators released by Statistics Canada, which includes indicators from programs such as the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours (SEPH); Employment Insurance Statistics; and the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey. For more information on the conceptual differences between employment measures from the LFS and those from the SEPH, refer to section 8 of the Guide to the Labour Force Survey.
The employment rate is the number of employed people as a percentage of the population aged 15 years and older. The rate for a particular group (for example, youth aged 15 to 24 years) is the number employed in that group as a percentage of the population for that group.
The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the labour force (employed and unemployed).
The participation rate is the number of employed and unemployed people as a percentage of the population aged 15 years and older.
Full-time employment consists of persons who usually work 30 hours or more per week at their main or only job.
Part-time employment consists of persons who usually work less than 30 hours per week at their main or only job.
Total hours worked refers to the number of hours actually worked at the main job by the respondent during the reference week, including paid and unpaid hours. These hours reflect temporary decreases or increases in work hours (for example, hours lost due to illness, vacation, holidays or weather; or more hours worked due to overtime).
This release refers to the gender of a person. The category “men” includes men, as well as some non-binary persons. The category “women” includes women, as well as some non-binary persons. Given that the non-binary population is small, data aggregation to a two-category gender variable is necessary to protect the confidentiality of responses provided.
Seasonal adjustment
Unless otherwise stated, estimates presented in this release are seasonally adjusted, which facilitates comparisons by removing the effects of typical seasonal variations. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.
Population growth in the Labour Force Survey
The LFS target population includes all persons aged 15 years and older whose usual place of residence is in Canada, with some exceptions (those living on reserves, full-time members of the regular Armed Forces and persons living in institutions). The target population includes temporary residents—that is, those with a valid work or study permit, their families, and refugee claimants—as well as permanent residents (landed immigrants) and the Canadian-born.
Information gathered from LFS respondents is weighted to represent the survey target population using population calibration totals. These totals are updated each month, using the most recently available information on population changes derived from Canada’s official population estimates, with minor adjustments being made to reflect the LFS target population.
While the LFS population totals are generally aligned with official demographic estimates, the official estimates should be considered the official measure of population change in Canada. More information on how population totals in the LFS are calculated can be found in the article “Interpreting population totals from the Labour Force Survey.”
Data for the Labour Market Indicators program are now available for January 2026.
Next release
The next release of the LFS will be on March 13, 2026. February 2026 data will reflect labour market conditions during the week of February 15 to 21.
Products
More information about the concepts and use of the Labour Force Survey is available online in the Guide to the Labour Force Survey (Catalogue number71-543-G).
The product “Labour Force Survey in brief: Interactive app” (Catalogue number14200001) is also available. This interactive visualization application provides seasonally adjusted estimates by province, gender, age group and industry.
The product “Labour Market Indicators, by province and census metropolitan area, seasonally adjusted” (Catalogue number71-607-X) is also available. This interactive dashboard provides customizable access to key labour market indicators.
The product “Labour Market Indicators, by province, territory and economic region, unadjusted for seasonality” (Catalogue number71-607-X) is also available. This dynamic web application provides access to labour market indicators for Canada, provinces, territories and economic regions.
The product “Labour market indicators, census metropolitan areas, census agglomerations and self-contained labour areas: Interactive dashboard” (Catalogue number71-607-X) is also available. This dashboard allows users to visually explore the estimates using an interactive map as well as time series charts and tables.
The product Labour Force Survey: Public Use Microdata File (Catalogue number71M0001X) is also available. This public use microdata file contains non-aggregated data for a wide variety of variables collected from the Labour Force Survey. The data have been modified to ensure that no individual or business is directly or indirectly identified. This product is for users who prefer to do their own analysis by focusing on specific subgroups in the population or by cross-classifying variables that are not in our catalogued products.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).