Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for August 2026 saw a small change to Canada’s job market as employment decreased by ~42,000 jobs (-0.2%). August’s survey reported that the Canadian unemployment rate remained the same at 6.4 per cent, with the employment rate decreasing slightly to from 60.8 per cent, from 60.9 per cent. Looking at a year-over-year basis, the employment rate was up 0.1 percentage points compared with 12 months earlier.Employment was little changed among private sector employees in August but was up by 156,000 (+1.1%) year over year. Similarly, self-employment was little changed in August compared with the previous month but increased by 80,000 (+3.0%) compared with 12 months earlier.
Statistics Canada’s August 2026 Labour Force Survey saw some shifts in a few industries.Employment declined in business, building and other support services by 20,000 jobs, public administration by 8,800 jobs, and natural resources and utilities by 7,700 and 5,600 jobs, respectively, in August.Manufacturing was the only sector to record a significant increase in employment in August, seeing an increase of 22,000 roles. Other notable employment changes include: Wholesale and retail trade (-10,500 jobs)Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (-9,600 jobs)Healthcare and social insurance (+6,000 jobs) Information, culture and recreation (+12,000 jobs)
Canada’s employment holds steady
Employment saw a small decrease in August (-42,000; -0.2%), following an increase of 75,000 (+0.4%) in July. The employment rate—the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who are employed—decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 60.8% in August. The employment rate in August was on par with the rate recorded at the start of the year, and up 0.3 percentage points compared with August 2025.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:Management occupations: down to 1.5% (from 1.6%)Business, finance, and administration occupations: up to 2.9% (from 2.6%)Natural and applied sciences and related occupations: up to 2.6% (from 2.4%)Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services: up to 9.3% (from 5.4%)Sales and services occupations, except management: down to 3.9% (from 4%)
Provincial Unemployment Breakdown August 2026
Unemployment rates by province:Canada: 6.4 per cent (no change from previous month)Newfoundland and Labrador: 8.6 per cent (-0.7 per cent)Prince Edward Island: 7.9 per cent (+1.1 per cent)Nova Scotia: 6.1 per cent (-0.1 per cent)New Brunswick: 7.3 per cent (+0.3 per cent)Quebec: 5.6 per cent (no change from previous month)Ontario: 6.9 per cent (+0.1 per cent)Manitoba: 5 per cent (no change from previous month)Saskatchewan: 6 per cent (no change from previous month)Alberta: 6.8 per cent (-0.2 per cent)British Columbia: 6.5 per cent (+0.3 per cent)Yukon: 5.3 per cent (-1.3 per cent)Northwest Territories: 7.6 per cent (-0.4 per cent)Nunavut: 11.3 per cent (no change from previous month)Employment edged down in Ontario (-18,000; -0.2%), following a net increase of 119,000 (+1.5%) from March to July. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the province was up by 116,000 (+1.4%) in August. The unemployment rate in Ontario was 6.9% in August, little changed from the previous month, and down 0.8 percentage points compared with August 2025.Employment in Quebec declined by 19,000 (-0.4%) in August, following little change in July. The decline in employment was concentrated in the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Montréal (-21,000; -0.9%). In August, Quebec was the only province to record a year-over-year decline in employment (-54,000; -1.2%). The unemployment rate in the province held steady at 5.6% in August and was little changed year over year.Read Robert Half Job Market Updates to get a full picture of Canada’s Labour Force:Update on the 2026 Canada Job Market: July Labour Force SurveyUpdate on the 2026 Canada Job Market: June Labour Force SurveyUpdate on the 2026 Canada Job Market: May Labour Force Survey
In the spotlight: Career insight for job seekers
53% of hiring managers say specialized skills are the attribute they value most when evaluating candidates and the following capabilities the most challenging to find when hiring for new roles:Technical or specialized skills (48%)Industry-specific knowledge or experience (47%)Leadership qualities (41%)Proficiency with specific software or tools (40%)Soft skills (39%)Source: Robert half survey of 1,360 Canadian hiring managers across Canada.Numbers you can count onOur 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.
Numbers you can count on
Get the ReportOur 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.
Access the GuideThe 2027 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half covers Canadian hiring and compensation trends across the six fields as well, incorporating exclusive data and input from surveys of thousands of Canadian workers and hiring managers, along with salary information for professionals we’ve matched with employers across the country.Whether you’re launching a job search, actively hiring talent or developing a staffing strategy for your business, there’s no better source of insights into today’s salary and hiring trends.
