Canada loses 68,000 jobs in September; unemployment reaches 6.5%

Employment fell by 68,000 in September in Canada, according to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey released October 9. The unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point to 6.5%, while the employment rate fell to 60.6%. [1]

Who is affected?

The decline was split between full-time employment, down 35,000, and part-time employment, down 33,000. People aged 15 to 24 lost 48,000 jobs; education and health care and social assistance recorded decreases. [1]

Causation should not be assumed

Reuters notes that losses were mainly in the public sector and were not concentrated in industries exposed to the United States. Their timing alongside new tariffs therefore does not establish that tariffs caused the entire decline. [2]

Monthly decline and annual change

Despite two consecutive monthly declines, employment remained 95,000 above its September 2025 level. The monthly change and annual comparison describe different time horizons. [1]