The latest Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey for March 2026 saw little change to Canada's job market, as employment edged up slightly by +14,000 jobs (MoM +0.1%).Statistics Canada’s latest Labour Force Survey reports that the Canadian unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7 per cent in March 2026. The employment rate held steady at 60.6 per cent. Year-over-year, employment was up by 0.4 per cent, with approximately 87,100 more people working in March 2026 compared to March 2025.
March 2026 Labour Force Release
14,000 jobs increased
6.7% unemployment rate (no change)
87,100 employment gains over 13 months
Source: Statistics Canada - seasonally adjusted, March 2025- March 2026
Employment patterns continued to shift in 2026, with gains in some sectors and declines in others. There were employment gains in the 'other services' industry (+15,000 jobs), which includes personal and repair services. Professional, scientific and technical services saw a boost with +12,000 jobs added and employment also increased in natural resources (+10,000 jobs).Other industries that reported job gains in March 2026, according to Statistics Canada, include:Information, culture and recreation: +8,800 (+1 per cent)Health care and social assistance: +5,000 (+0.2 per cent)Construction: +4,000 (+0.3 per cent)Public administration: +3,600 (+0.3 per cent)Manufacturing: +2,500 (+0.1 per cent)Transportation and warehousing: +1,600 (+0.2 per cent)Utilities: +800 (+0.5 per cent)Although employment in health care and social assistance was little changed in March (+5,000 jobs), it was up +94,000 jobs compared with 12 months earlier, the largest employment growth among industries. Over that same period, the largest employment decline among industries was in manufacturing (-44,000 jobs). In March, we also saw employment fall in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (-11,000 jobs), the first significant monthly decline since November 2023.Other industries that reported job losses in March 2026, according to Statistics Canada, include:Accommodation and food services: -10,000 (-0.9 per cent)Business, building and other support services: -9,500 (-1.4 per cent)Educational services: -7,200 (-0.5 per cent)Wholesale and retail trade: -6,700 (-0.2 per cent)Agriculture: -5,000 (-2.1 per cent)All percentages above represent MoM change
Canada’s unemployment rate unchanged in March 2026
Statistics Canada’s March 2026 Labour Force Survey reported that Canada’s national unemployment rate held steady from February to March at 6.7 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: 3.2 per cent (3 per cent in February 2026)Natural and applied sciences and related occupations, which includes technology roles: 3.1 per cent (no change from February 2026)Management occupations, which includes marketing and creative roles: 1.5 per cent (2.2 per cent in February 2026)Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services, which includes legal roles: 2.3 per cent (1.8 per cent in February 2026)Customer support roles, which fall outside the above Statistics Canada categories:5.5 per cent (5.3 per cent in February 2026)
Provincial unemployment breakdown March 2026
Unemployment rates by province:British Columbia: 6.7 per cent (+0.6 per cent)Alberta: 6.5 per cent (+0.2 per cent)Saskatchewan: 5.0 per cent (-0.6 per cent)Manitoba: 5.6 per cent (-0.1 per cent)Ontario: 7.6 per cent (no change)Quebec: 5.4 per cent (-0.5 per cent)New Brunswick: 7.0 per cent (no change)Prince Edward Island: 7.3 per cent (+0.1 per cent)Nova Scotia: 6.6 per cent (-0.5 per cent)Newfoundland and Labrador: 9.5 per cent (+0.3 per cent)All percentages in brackets above represent MoM changeThe March 2026 Labour Force Survey continues to reflect a shift in provincial labour markets, with rates easing in some areas (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and Nova Scotia) and rising in others (British Columbia, Alberta, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador).Employment trends varied across Canada in March. Employment in British Columbia fell by -19,000 jobs, following a similar-sized decline (-20,000) in February. In contrast, employment increased in Manitoba (+11,000 jobs) and in Saskatchewan (+5,800 jobs) in March, following declines in both provinces in February. Employment also rose in Nova Scotia (+3,900 jobs) and was little changed in the other provinces.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: February Labour Force Survey2026 Canada Job Market: January Labour Force Survey2025 Canada Job Market: December 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 RecruitingFor 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
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 2026 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 compensation trends than the 2026 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half.
