Statistics Canada's September Labour Force Survey found 68,000 fewer employed people than in August, a 0.3% monthly decline. The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point to 6.5%. Released on October 9, the survey reflects conditions during the reference week of September 13 to 19. Canada-level LFS estimates exclude the territories, and monthly survey estimates have sampling variability.

August had already recorded a 42,000 decline. Employment increased by 181,000 from April through July and remained 95,000 above its level a year earlier in September.

What the 68,000 figure measures

Statistics Canada counted 35,000 fewer people in full-time work and 33,000 fewer in part-time work. The employment rate, the share of people aged 15 and older who were working, fell 0.2 percentage point to 60.6%.

The public sector accounted for a large part of the monthly decrease. Its employee count fell by 70,000, the fourth consecutive monthly decline. Private-sector employment was little changed during September, although it remained 163,000 higher than a year earlier. Self-employment edged down by 23,000.

Statistics Canada defines the layoff rate as the proportion of people employed in August who were unemployed in September because of a layoff. It was 0.7%, close to 0.6% a year earlier and the 2017-to-2019 average. The 68,000 net employment decrease is a separate measure and cannot be read as 68,000 people laid off.

Who and where changed

Employment among people aged 15 to 24 fell by 48,000 in September, the second monthly drop for that group. Across August and September, youth employment declined by 67,000. The youth labour force also shrank by 50,000 in September, so the unemployment rate stayed little changed at 13.0% even as fewer young people were working. A stable rate in this case does not mean the number of young people with jobs was stable.

Employment among women aged 25 to 54 fell by 28,000. More women in this age group were searching for work, and their unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage point to 5.3%. Employment counts people who are working; the unemployment rate also depends on how many people are actively looking.

Education services had 35,000 fewer workers in September and 67,000 fewer than a year earlier, a 4.2% annual decline. The year-over-year education decrease was concentrated in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta: education employment fell by 27,000 in Quebec, 19,000 in Ontario and 17,000 in Alberta. Health care and social assistance fell by 23,000 during September, its first monthly decrease since December 2022, but remained 93,000 above its year-earlier level. Manufacturing employment declined by 13,000.

The provincial picture was uneven too. Quebec fell by 49,000 and British Columbia by 20,000. Alberta added 23,000 workers during September and was 76,000 higher than a year earlier. These provincial totals locate the monthly change, though they do not show whether a specific occupation is hiring.

Participation and job search add context

The job-finding rate was 30.6% in September. Statistics Canada defines it as the share of people who were unemployed in August and found work in September. It was down from 32.8% a year earlier and below the 2017-to-2019 average of 36.5%.

Labour-force participation fell 0.2 percentage point to 64.8%, its lowest level since December 1997, when it was also 64.8%, excluding 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics Canada says the year-over-year decline largely reflects an older population. Holding the age mix at its September 2019 composition would leave the participation rate nearly unchanged from a year earlier and 0.2 point above September 2019. The raw rate describes the population as it is now; the age-adjusted calculation estimates what it would look like with an older population share held constant.

Average hourly wages rose 2.3% year over year to C$37.64 before seasonal adjustment. That increase can coexist with fewer people employed because the wage figure describes pay among employees, while the employment total counts how many people were working.

The report shows the strongest September movements in youth employment, public-sector employment, education services and several provinces. A reader checking openings in Quebec, Alberta or a specific sector needs current local vacancy information alongside this national survey.

A young adult pauses at a kitchen table beside a closed laptop and coat, in a quiet city home.
Concept illustration: participation and active job search can add context to an employment-rate headline.