The latest Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey for April 2026 saw little change to Canada's job market, as employment dipped slightly by -18,000 jobs (MoM -0.1%).
Statistics Canada’s latest Labour Force Survey reports that the Canadian unemployment rate ticked up to 6.9 per cent in April. The employment rate stood at 60.5 per cent. Year-over-year, employment was up by +0.3 per cent, with approximately 67,000 more people working in April 2026 compared to April 2025.
April 2026 Labour Force Release
18,000 jobs decreased
6.9% unemployment rate (0.2 percentage point increase)
67,000 employment gains over 13 months
Source: Statistics Canada - seasonally adjusted, April 2025- April 2026
Job gains and losses in April 2026
Employment patterns continued to shift in 2026, with gains in some sectors and declines in others. On a year-over-year basis, employment was little changed across most industries in April. There were employment gains in business, building and other support services (+22,000 jobs), health care and social assistance (+18,000 jobs) and in accommodation and food services (+13,000 jobs).
Other industries that reported job gains in April 2026, according to Statistics Canada, include:
Educational services: +6,000 (+0.4 per cent)
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing: +4,900 (+0.3 per cent)
Public administration: +2,700 (+0.2 per cent)
Over that same period, employment decreases were concentrated in information, culture and recreation (-25,000 jobs), construction (-16,000 jobs), and in 'other services' (-13,000 jobs), an industry which includes repair and maintenance as well as personal services.
Other industries that reported job losses in April 2026, according to Statistics Canada, include:
Transportation and warehousing: -10,500 (-1 per cent)
Wholesale and retail trade: -8,300 (-0.3 per cent)
Utilities: -3,500 (-2 per cent)
Manufacturing: -1,500 (-0.1 per cent)
Agriculture: -600 (-0.3 per cent)
Professional, scientific and technical services: -300 (-0.01 per cent)
All percentages above represent MoM change
Canada’s unemployment rate increases in April 2026
Statistics Canada’s April 2026 Labour Force Survey reported that Canada’s national unemployment rate increased to 6.9 per cent from March to April (+0.2 per cent). For businesses seeking to navigate this evolving labour market landscape, these statistics offer valuable insights for workforce planning and recruitment strategies for 2026.
While the job market in Canada continues to fluctuate across many sectors, the unemployment rates for skilled professionals supported by Robert Half Canada’s staffing experts – continue to be below the national average:
Business, finance and administration occupations, which includes finance and accounting, HR, and administration and customer service roles: 2.9 per cent (3.2 per cent in March 2026)
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations, which includes technology roles: 2.8 per cent (3.1 per cent in March 2026)
Management occupations, which includes marketing and creative roles: 1.3 per cent (1.5 per cent in March 2026)
Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services, which includes legal roles: 1.7 per cent (2.3 per cent in March 2026)
Customer support roles, which fall outside the above Statistics Canada categories: 5.2 per cent (5.5 per cent in March 2026)
Provincial unemployment breakdown April 2026
Unemployment rates by province:
British Columbia: 6.8 per cent (+0.1 per cent)
Alberta: 7.0 per cent (+0.5 per cent)
Saskatchewan: 5.6 per cent (+0.6 per cent)
Manitoba: 5.0 per cent (-0.6 per cent)
Ontario: 7.5 per cent (-0.1 per cent)
Quebec: 6.2 per cent (+0.8 per cent)
New Brunswick: 7.2 per cent (+0.2 per cent)
Prince Edward Island: 8.0 per cent (+0.7 per cent)
Nova Scotia: 6.3 per cent (-0.3 per cent)
Newfoundland and Labrador: 10 per cent (+0.5 per cent)
All percentages in brackets above represent MoM change
The April 2026 Labour Force Survey continues to reflect a shift in provincial labour markets, with rates easing in some areas (Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia) and rising in others (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador).
Employment in Quebec fell by -43,000 jobs. Since January, employment in Quebec recorded a net decline of -91,000 jobs which was mainly focused in the Montreal census metropolitan area (-56,000 jobs. Employment did increase in Ontario (+42,000 jobs), after two consecutive months of little change. There were also slight employment gains recorded in Alberta (+1,000 jobs), and Nova Scotia (+700 jobs).
This varying provincial performance underscores the complexity of Canada’s labour market, where regional economic factors, trade dynamics, and sector-specific trends continue to shape employment outcomes.
Read Robert Half Job Market Updates to get a full picture of Canada’s Labour Force:
2026 Canada Job Market: March Labour Force Survey
2026 Canada Job Market: February Labour Force Survey
2026 Canada Job Market: January Labour Force Survey
Employer and worker confidence
While many of the Canada job market’s latest numbers continue to indicate a challenging economic climate, the unemployment rates for skilled professionals remain steady which align with Robert Half Canada’s latest Demand For Skilled Talent report.
The research found that more than half – 55 per cent – of Canadian companies surveyed planned to add new permanent positions in the first half of 2026. Half of the business leaders surveyed are increasing the number of contract professionals they enlist to support new projects during the same period. The research also reveals, 53 per cent of business leaders are finding it more difficult to hire skilled talent than a year ago, with 64 per cent saying AI-generated applications make the process more challenging.
Learn more: AI in Recruiting
For organizations seeking to hire skilled professionals, the message is clear: Competition for top talent remains and is likely to continue throughout 2026. That’s why companies are responding by offering the following:
Work-life balance (e.g., hybrid work) (52 per cent)
Financial benefits (e.g., bonuses) (51 per cent)
Retirement benefits (43 per cent)
Health and wellness programs (39 per cent)
Data from the 2026 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half
Numbers you can count on
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Our latest Demand for Skilled Talent report provides Canadian employers with the latest employment trends and challenges across six professional fields: finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, and human resources.
