Canada’s unemployment rate has fluctuated over the years, reflecting changes in the economy and labour market. Here is a brief overview of Canada’s unemployment rate over the past few decades:
- In the 1980s, Canada experienced a recession that resulted in high levels of unemployment. The unemployment rate peaked at 13.1% in December 1982, and remained above 10% until mid-1984.
- In the 1990s, Canada experienced another recession that led to high levels of unemployment. The unemployment rate peaked at 11.4% in December 1992, and remained above 9% until mid-1994.
- In the early 2000s, the unemployment rate in Canada was relatively low, hovering between 6% and 8%.
- The global financial crisis of 2008-2009 significantly impacted Canada’s labour market. The unemployment rate rose to 8.7% in August 2009, and remained above 7% until mid-2012.
- In recent years, Canada’s unemployment rate has generally been on a downward trend. It has been hovering around 5-6% since 2016, with some fluctuations due to changes in economic conditions and government policies.
Overall, Canada’s unemployment rate has been influenced by various factors such as economic conditions, technological advancements, industry trends, and government policies.
November 2015 December 2021
N.L.: 13% 7.6%
P.E.I.: 10.4% 7.3%
Nova Scotia: 8.6% 7.3%
New Brunswick: 8.7% 7.5%
Quebec: 7.5% 5.3%
Ontario: 6.9% 6.4%
Manitoba: 6.1% 5.5%
Sask.: 5.5% 5.6%
Alberta: 7% 5.5%
B.C.: 6.2% 5.1%
Canada: 7.1% 6.2%
Source: Statistics Canada
The unemployment rate in Canada is comparable to many other developed countries. Here are the latest unemployment rates (as of December 2021) for some selected countries:
- United States: 3.9%
- United Kingdom: 4.3%
- Germany: 3.8%
- France: 7.1%
- Japan: 2.8%
- Australia: 4.2%
Compared to these countries, Canada’s unemployment rate of 6.2% is somewhat higher but still relatively low globally.
