Future of work

Main findings  

Canada’s labour market changed little from February 2026 to March 2026. Employment rose slightly, the unemployment rate remained at 6.7%, and youth unemployment stayed elevated at 13.8%.

Key takeaways  

• Employment was flat in March (up 14,000 and 0.1%).
• The unemployment rate remained at 6.7%.
• Youth unemployment showed little change at 13.8%.
• Among workers aged 25–54, unemployment remained stable at 5.8%.
• Employment was modestly higher in March 2026 compared to March 2025 (up 0.4% year over year).

Plain language summary 

Canada’s labour market showed little movement from February 2026 to March 2026. Employment increased slightly after having declined in January and February. Overall, the labour market is staying consistent rather than expanding.

The unemployment rate was unchanged since last month, at 6.7%. This month’s rate is below the recent peak unemployment rate of 7.1% in August and September 2025, but above the pre-pandemic average of 6.0% from 2017 to 2019.

Labour market conditions varied by age group. Among workers aged 25 to 54 (a group that is commonly used as a benchmark), the unemployment rate was virtually unchanged at 5.8%. Among youth aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate changed little, dropping to 13.8% in March from 14.1% in February 2026.

Statistics Canada noted that unemployment rates are higher now than in the pre-pandemic period because of slower hiring rather than increased layoffs. This means people looking for work may be taking longer to find jobs even though layoffs have not increased substantially.

Why the results matter

For post-secondary institutions and students:

Youth unemployment remained elevated in March, and the share of unemployed people who found work was below the pre-pandemic average. This reinforces the importance of clear LMI, work-integrated learning, and career supports that help students understand hiring conditions and prepare to transition into the workforce.

For employers and employment services:

A soft entry-level market suggests an untapped labour supply. Employment services and employers can use this information to better understand where job seekers may need support, including help connecting to available roles and navigating longer job searches.

For educators, CDPs, and job seekers:

The steadiness of the youth unemployment rate suggests early-career job seekers may continue to find job searches challenging. CDPs can help job seekers interpret labour market conditions, identify sectors with stronger demand, and prepare for a potentially longer search.

For people in the LMI ecosystem:

The March results show why it is important to look beyond main trends. Even when national employment and unemployment rates are stable, particular age groups, regions, and industries can have different experiences.

For most Canadians:

The labour market was broadly stable in March, but job search conditions remained more difficult than they were before the pandemic. This is especially relevant for young people and others trying to enter or re-enter the labour market.

Definitions

• Employment rate

Share of the population aged 15 and older that is employed.

• Unemployment rate

Share of the labour force that is actively seeking work, but unable to find it.

Notes and important disclaimers

• The data used in the monthly Labour Force Survey are subject to sampling variability, which means results can change slightly from one survey of the population to the next. The data are also subject to revision, which is to say they could be updated.
• Important differences in data between regions, industries, and demographic groups might not show up in national survey data.