Canada’s labour market showed little overall employment growth in October, but wholesale and retail trade recorded one of the largest industry declines, shedding 29,000 jobs as the national unemployment rate edged up to 6.7 per cent, according to a report released Friday by Statistics Canada.
Employment decreased by 4,700 positions nationally during the month, while the number of people searching for work increased by 33,000. The employment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 60.5 per cent, marking its third consecutive monthly decline.
The latest Labour Force Survey figures show employment in wholesale and retail trade has continued to weaken over the past year, with the industry losing 113,000 jobs, or 3.7 per cent, in the 12 months to October.
The figures come amid broader labour market challenges, including an increase in long-term unemployment and a higher proportion of Canadians reporting difficulties meeting household financial needs.
Wholesale and retail trade employment declines
Employment in wholesale and retail trade fell by 29,000 positions, or 1 per cent, in October. The industry has experienced a sustained downward trend, with year-over-year employment declines concentrated in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.
The decrease in October contributed to the broader employment picture, as the national labour market recorded little net change over the month. Employment had previously declined by 68,000 in September and 42,000 in August.
Other industries recorded employment gains in October. Construction added 16,000 positions, an increase of 0.9 per cent, following two consecutive months of little change. Compared with October 2025, construction employment was up 47,000, or 2.9 per cent.
Educational services employment increased by 15,000, or 1 per cent, partially offsetting a decline of 35,000 positions in September. Despite the monthly increase, employment in the industry remained down 48,000, or 3 per cent, compared with a year earlier.
Across the overall economy, employment recorded little net variation over the 12 months to October, increasing by 17,000, or 0.1 per cent. The employment rate declined 0.3 percentage points over the same period.
Unemployment rate rises to 6.7 per cent
Statistics Canada reported that the national unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 6.7 per cent in October, marking its second consecutive monthly increase. Despite the rise, the rate was 0.2 percentage points lower than a year earlier and remained below the recent peak of 6.9 per cent recorded in April 2026.
Among the 1.5 million people unemployed in October, nearly one-quarter, or 23.7 per cent, had been continuously searching for work for at least 27 weeks. That compares with 21.5 per cent a year earlier and an average of 17.2 per cent between 2017 and 2019.
Long-term unemployment was particularly pronounced among people aged 55 and older, with 32.7 per cent of unemployed individuals in that age group having searched for work for at least 27 weeks. That was up from 27.9 per cent a year earlier.
Among people aged 25 to 54, the proportion increased to 25.3 per cent from 23.3 per cent. Youth continued to have the lowest share of long-term unemployment at 15.2 per cent, compared with 14.4 per cent a year earlier.
The job-finding rate also remained below its pre-pandemic level. Just under one in five people who were unemployed in September found work in October, representing a rate of 18.9 per cent. That was below the 19.8 per cent recorded 12 months earlier and the 24.6 per cent average for the same months between 2017 and 2019.
Youth unemployment increases
The unemployment rate among Canadians aged 15 to 24 rose 0.7 percentage points to 13.7 per cent in October, as youth employment edged down and more young people searched for work.
The rate was higher among students, at 13.5 per cent, than among youth who were not attending school, at 12.3 per cent. Both figures were little changed compared with a year earlier.
For Canadians aged 25 to 54, unemployment remained unchanged among men at 5.8 per cent and women at 5.3 per cent. Among people aged 55 and older, the unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 5.5 per cent.
Employment declines in Alberta
Provincial employment figures showed a decline of 24,000 positions, or 0.9 per cent, in Alberta in October, offsetting a similar-sized increase recorded in September. Despite the monthly decrease, employment in the province was up 41,000, or 1.6 per cent, compared with October 2025.
Alberta’s unemployment rate increased 0.9 percentage points to 7.3 per cent in October.
British Columbia recorded an employment increase of 12,000 positions, or 0.4 per cent, following a decline of 20,000 in September. Its unemployment rate stood at 6.3 per cent.
Employment in Quebec was unchanged in October after cumulative declines of 68,000 positions in August and September. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the province was down 106,000, or 2.3 per cent.
Ontario also recorded little employment change for a third consecutive month. Its unemployment rate increased 0.3 percentage points to 7.3 per cent in October.
Wages continue to increase
Average hourly wages among employees increased 2.2 per cent year over year in October, rising 83 cents to $37.89. This followed annual wage growth of 2.3 per cent in September.
The number of private-sector employees decreased by 53,000, or 0.4 per cent, in October, marking the first decline since February. Public-sector employment increased by 50,000, or 1.1 per cent, following four consecutive months of declines.
Compared with a year earlier, public-sector employment was down 70,000, or 1.5 per cent, while private-sector employment increased slightly by 35,000, or 0.3 per cent.
Self-employment was little changed during October but remained up 52,000, or 1.9 per cent, year over year.
Statistics Canada also reported that 29.7 per cent of Canadians aged 15 and older lived in households that had difficulty meeting financial needs, including transportation, housing, food, clothing and other necessary expenses, during the four weeks preceding the October survey. That proportion increased two percentage points over the previous 12 months, marking the first annual increase since 2022.
The agency also found that 60.9 per cent of employed Canadians aged 15 to 69 described themselves as very satisfied with their jobs in October, rating their satisfaction eight, nine or 10 out of 10. The proportion was relatively stable in recent years but remained below the 62.2 per cent recorded in 2023.
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