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Canada unemployment rate 6.7% in October 2026 vs peers

Canada's unemployment rate rose to 6.7% in October 2026, up from 6.5% in September. That is well above the UK, Australia and Ireland, close to Denmark and Italy, and just above Canada's own ten-year average.

Published 2 min read

Canada · Unemployment rateCanada: Oct 2015 7%, Nov 2015 7.1%, Dec 2015 7.3%, Jan 2016 7.2%, Feb 2016 7.3%, Mar 2016 7.2%, Apr 2016 7.3%, May 2016 7.1%, Jun 2016 7%, Jul 2016 7%, Aug 2016 6.9%, Sep 2016 7%, Oct 2016 6.9%, Nov 2016 6.8%, Dec 2016 6.9%, Jan 2017 6.9%, Feb 2017 6.6%, Mar 2017 6.7%, Apr 2017 6.5%, May 2017 6.6%, Jun 2017 6.5%, Jul 2017 6.3%, Aug 2017 6.2%, Sep 2017 6.2%, Oct 2017 6.3%, Nov 2017 6.2%, Dec 2017 6%, Jan 2018 5.9%, Feb 2018 6%, Mar 2018 5.8%, Apr 2018 5.8%, May 2018 5.9%, Jun 2018 6%, Jul 2018 5.9%, Aug 2018 6%, Sep 2018 5.8%, Oct 2018 5.6%, Nov 2018 5.7%, Dec 2018 5.6%, Jan 2019 5.7%, Feb 2019 5.8%, Mar 2019 5.8%, Apr 2019 5.7%, May 2019 5.5%, Jun 2019 5.6%, Jul 2019 5.7%, Aug 2019 5.7%, Sep 2019 5.6%, Oct 2019 5.6%, Nov 2019 5.9%, Dec 2019 5.6%, Jan 2020 5.5%, Feb 2020 5.8%, Mar 2020 8.5%, Apr 2020 13.7%, May 2020 14.2%, Jun 2020 12.6%, Jul 2020 10.9%, Aug 2020 10.1%, Sep 2020 9.1%, Oct 2020 9%, Nov 2020 8.6%, Dec 2020 8.9%, Jan 2021 9.2%, Feb 2021 8.5%, Mar 2021 7.7%, Apr 2021 8.2%, May 2021 8.3%, Jun 2021 7.9%, Jul 2021 7.4%, Aug 2021 7.1%, Sep 2021 7%, Oct 2021 6.5%, Nov 2021 6.1%, Dec 2021 5.9%, Jan 2022 6.4%, Feb 2022 5.5%, Mar 2022 5.4%, Apr 2022 5.4%, May 2022 5.2%, Jun 2022 4.9%, Jul 2022 4.8%, Aug 2022 5.2%, Sep 2022 5.1%, Oct 2022 5.1%, Nov 2022 5%, Dec 2022 5%, Jan 2023 5.1%, Feb 2023 5.2%, Mar 2023 5.1%, Apr 2023 5.1%, May 2023 5.2%, Jun 2023 5.4%, Jul 2023 5.4%, Aug 2023 5.4%, Sep 2023 5.5%, Oct 2023 5.7%, Nov 2023 5.8%, Dec 2023 5.8%, Jan 2024 5.7%, Feb 2024 5.9%, Mar 2024 6.1%, Apr 2024 6.2%, May 2024 6.3%, Jun 2024 6.4%, Jul 2024 6.4%, Aug 2024 6.6%, Sep 2024 6.5%, Oct 2024 6.6%, Nov 2024 7%, Dec 2024 6.7%, Jan 2025 6.7%, Feb 2025 6.6%, Mar 2025 6.8%, Apr 2025 6.9%, May 2025 7%, Jun 2025 6.9%, Jul 2025 6.9%, Aug 2025 7.1%, Sep 2025 7.1%, Oct 2025 6.9%, Nov 2025 6.6%, Dec 2025 6.8%, Jan 2026 6.5%, Feb 2026 6.7%, Mar 2026 6.7%, Apr 2026 6.9%, May 2026 6.6%, Jun 2026 6.5%, Jul 2026 6.4%, Aug 2026 6.4%, Sep 2026 6.5%, Oct 2026 6.7% Canada · Unemployment rate % · Oct 2015–Oct 2026 0%7.1%14.2%Canada Oct 2015: 7%Canada Nov 2015: 7.1%Canada Dec 2015: 7.3%Canada Jan 2016: 7.2%Canada Feb 2016: 7.3%Canada Mar 2016: 7.2%Canada Apr 2016: 7.3%Canada May 2016: 7.1%Canada Jun 2016: 7%Canada Jul 2016: 7%Canada Aug 2016: 6.9%Canada Sep 2016: 7%Canada Oct 2016: 6.9%Canada Nov 2016: 6.8%Canada Dec 2016: 6.9%Canada Jan 2017: 6.9%Canada Feb 2017: 6.6%Canada Mar 2017: 6.7%Canada Apr 2017: 6.5%Canada May 2017: 6.6%Canada Jun 2017: 6.5%Canada Jul 2017: 6.3%Canada Aug 2017: 6.2%Canada Sep 2017: 6.2%Canada Oct 2017: 6.3%Canada Nov 2017: 6.2%Canada Dec 2017: 6%Canada Jan 2018: 5.9%Canada Feb 2018: 6%Canada Mar 2018: 5.8%Canada Apr 2018: 5.8%Canada May 2018: 5.9%Canada Jun 2018: 6%Canada Jul 2018: 5.9%Canada Aug 2018: 6%Canada Sep 2018: 5.8%Canada Oct 2018: 5.6%Canada Nov 2018: 5.7%Canada Dec 2018: 5.6%Canada Jan 2019: 5.7%Canada Feb 2019: 5.8%Canada Mar 2019: 5.8%Canada Apr 2019: 5.7%Canada May 2019: 5.5%Canada Jun 2019: 5.6%Canada Jul 2019: 5.7%Canada Aug 2019: 5.7%Canada Sep 2019: 5.6%Canada Oct 2019: 5.6%Canada Nov 2019: 5.9%Canada Dec 2019: 5.6%Canada Jan 2020: 5.5%Canada Feb 2020: 5.8%Canada Mar 2020: 8.5%Canada Apr 2020: 13.7%Canada May 2020: 14.2%Canada Jun 2020: 12.6%Canada Jul 2020: 10.9%Canada Aug 2020: 10.1%Canada Sep 2020: 9.1%Canada Oct 2020: 9%Canada Nov 2020: 8.6%Canada Dec 2020: 8.9%Canada Jan 2021: 9.2%Canada Feb 2021: 8.5%Canada Mar 2021: 7.7%Canada Apr 2021: 8.2%Canada May 2021: 8.3%Canada Jun 2021: 7.9%Canada Jul 2021: 7.4%Canada Aug 2021: 7.1%Canada Sep 2021: 7%Canada Oct 2021: 6.5%Canada Nov 2021: 6.1%Canada Dec 2021: 5.9%Canada Jan 2022: 6.4%Canada Feb 2022: 5.5%Canada Mar 2022: 5.4%Canada Apr 2022: 5.4%Canada May 2022: 5.2%Canada Jun 2022: 4.9%Canada Jul 2022: 4.8%Canada Aug 2022: 5.2%Canada Sep 2022: 5.1%Canada Oct 2022: 5.1%Canada Nov 2022: 5%Canada Dec 2022: 5%Canada Jan 2023: 5.1%Canada Feb 2023: 5.2%Canada Mar 2023: 5.1%Canada Apr 2023: 5.1%Canada May 2023: 5.2%Canada Jun 2023: 5.4%Canada Jul 2023: 5.4%Canada Aug 2023: 5.4%Canada Sep 2023: 5.5%Canada Oct 2023: 5.7%Canada Nov 2023: 5.8%Canada Dec 2023: 5.8%Canada Jan 2024: 5.7%Canada Feb 2024: 5.9%Canada Mar 2024: 6.1%Canada Apr 2024: 6.2%Canada May 2024: 6.3%Canada Jun 2024: 6.4%Canada Jul 2024: 6.4%Canada Aug 2024: 6.6%Canada Sep 2024: 6.5%Canada Oct 2024: 6.6%Canada Nov 2024: 7%Canada Dec 2024: 6.7%Canada Jan 2025: 6.7%Canada Feb 2025: 6.6%Canada Mar 2025: 6.8%Canada Apr 2025: 6.9%Canada May 2025: 7%Canada Jun 2025: 6.9%Canada Jul 2025: 6.9%Canada Aug 2025: 7.1%Canada Sep 2025: 7.1%Canada Oct 2025: 6.9%Canada Nov 2025: 6.6%Canada Dec 2025: 6.8%Canada Jan 2026: 6.5%Canada Feb 2026: 6.7%Canada Mar 2026: 6.7%Canada Apr 2026: 6.9%Canada May 2026: 6.6%Canada Jun 2026: 6.5%Canada Jul 2026: 6.4%Canada Aug 2026: 6.4%Canada Sep 2026: 6.5%Canada Oct 2026: 6.7%6.7%Oct 2015Apr 2021Oct 2026 Statistics Canada https://vernumo.com/en-ca/a/canada-unemployment-rate-6-7-in-october-2026-vs-peers-w7zpk
Statistics Canada

The long view

highest in 10 yrs
14.2% May 2020
lowest in 10 yrs
4.8% July 2022
10-yr average
6.6%
Readings below the latest figure
68%

Vernumo calculation

Next official release: Labour Force Survey, November 2026 —

Canada Unemployment rate →

Canada sits closer to continental Europe than to its English-speaking peers

Canada's unemployment rate was 6.7% in October 2026, seasonally adjusted. It rose 0.2 percentage points from September, when it stood at 6.5%. The unemployment rate is the share of people in the labour force who are out of work and looking for a job. F1+2

That rate is well above the English-speaking economies Canada is most often measured against. Ireland, the one peer with an October reading, was at 4.8%. The UK rate was 4.7% in July 2026, and Australia's was 4.72% in September. F8+2

By European standards Canada sits in the middle of the pack. Denmark was at 6.8% in September 2026, and Italy and Austria were both at 6.3%. France and Spain were higher, at 8.5% and 10.3%, while Germany's rate of 4.1% was lower. F6+5

These figures cannot show whether the gap with the UK, Australia and Ireland is new. Only one reading is available for each of those countries, so this analysis cannot say whether the gap has widened or narrowed. F20+2

The October rise lifted Canada just above its ten-year norm

Over the past ten years, Canada's rate has averaged 6.6%, so October's reading is a shade above normal. Only 68% of months in that decade had a lower rate. Both figures are Vernumo's own calculation from the official series. L3+1

October's rate was the highest since April 2026, the last time the rate was at least this high. It is still below the 6.9% recorded in October 2025. The current level is far from the decade's extremes, which ranged from 4.8% in July 2022 to 14.2% in May 2020. L4+3

A national yardstick for your own region or trade

In October 2026, 6.7% of Canada's labour force was out of work and looking for a job. That figure gives residents a benchmark. A local or industry unemployment rate above it is higher than the national average for that month, and one below it is lower. F1

The national rate does not say how long people stay unemployed or which regions saw the rise. It also does not show how hard any one person will find it to get hired. F1

Peer figures come from different months

Canada's and Ireland's readings are for October 2026, but most other peers are for September, the UK's is for July and Switzerland's is for June. Each country also uses its own national survey, so small gaps between countries say less than larger ones. F1+3

AI analyst view

Little change expected low confidence next 3 months

Estimate range: 6.5–6.9%

Why

  • One monthly rise is a thin basis for a trend. The rate went from 6.5% in September to 6.7% in October, and it is still below its October 2025 level, so the year-on-year picture does not show a steady climb. F2 F1 F4
  • The rate is sitting almost exactly on its ten-year average of 6.6%. Unemployment rates tend to move gradually around such levels unless hiring shifts sharply, which supports a range around the current reading. L3 F1
  • Average weekly earnings were up 3.68% over 12 months in August 2026. In general, pay growth at that pace sits uneasily with a fast rise in joblessness, which leans against a sharp move up. C27

What would change this view

  • If the rate reaches 6.9% or higher, the April 2026 level, a gradual upward drift would look more likely than a flat path.
  • If the rate falls back to 6.5% or lower, October would look like a one-off rise.

This is the AI’s own interpretation of the official figures above, not an official forecast. It may turn out wrong.

Scenarios to watch

  • Scenario, not a forecast If the next readings stay above the ten-year average of 6.6%, Canada would remain closer to continental Europe than to the UK and Australia.
  • Scenario, not a forecast If the rate climbs back to the 6.9% seen in October 2025, it would be level with the year-earlier reading.

What to check next

  • Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey for November 2026
  • Whether the rate stays above the ten-year average of 6.6%
  • October readings for the UK, Australia and European peers

Verified data used in this report

IndicatorValuePeriodSourcesAccessed
F1Canada · Unemployment rate6.7%Oct 2026Statistics Canada
F10France · Unemployment rate8.5%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F11Italy · Unemployment rate6.3%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F13Austria · Unemployment rate6.3%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F17Switzerland · Unemployment rate5.1%Jun 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F2Canada · Unemployment rate6.5%Sep 2026Statistics Canada
F20UK · Unemployment rate4.7%Jul 2026Office for National Statistics (UK)
F21Australia · Unemployment rate4.72%Sep 2026Australian Bureau of Statistics
F3Change from previous period0.2ppOct 2026Statistics Canada
F4Canada · Unemployment rate6.9%Oct 2025Statistics Canada
F6Denmark · Unemployment rate6.8%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F7Germany · Unemployment rate4.1%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F8Ireland · Unemployment rate4.8%Oct 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F9Spain · Unemployment rate10.3%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
L1Canada · Unemployment rate · highest in 10 yrs (Vernumo calculation)14.2%May 2020Statistics Canada
L2Canada · Unemployment rate · lowest in 10 yrs (Vernumo calculation)4.8%Jul 2022Statistics Canada
L3Canada · Unemployment rate · 10-yr average (Vernumo calculation)6.6%Oct 2026Statistics Canada
L4Canada · Unemployment rate · last this high (Vernumo calculation)6.9%Apr 2026Statistics Canada
L5Canada · Unemployment rate · share of readings below this in 10 yrs (Vernumo calculation)68%Oct 2026Statistics Canada
C27Canada · Wage growth3.68%Aug 2026Statistics Canada
Other background figures (29)
IndicatorValuePeriodSourcesAccessed
F12Netherlands · Unemployment rate4%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F14Finland · Unemployment rate11%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F15Sweden · Unemployment rate8.6%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F16Norway · Unemployment rate5%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
F18Japan · Unemployment rate2.4%Sep 2026OECD
F19South Korea · Unemployment rate2%Sep 2026Statistics Korea (KOSIS)
F5Belgium · Unemployment rate6%Sep 2026Eurostat (European Commission)
C16Canada · Consumer price inflation3.09%Sep 2026Statistics Canada
C17Canada · Electricity price inflation3.6%Sep 2026Statistics Canada
C18Canada · Energy price inflation18.95%Sep 2026Statistics Canada
C19Canada · Food price inflation2.18%Sep 2026Statistics Canada
C20Canada · Fuel price inflation27.79%Sep 2026Statistics Canada
C21Canada · Gas price inflation-6.78%Sep 2026Statistics Canada
C22Canada · New home prices-2.04%Sep 2026Statistics Canada
C23Canada · Central bank policy rate2.5%Oct 2026Bank of Canada
C24Canada · Rent inflation2.8%Sep 2026Statistics Canada
C25Canada · Housing cost inflation1.75%Sep 2026Statistics Canada
C28Canada · GDP growth1.74%2025World Bank
C29Canada · House prices-3.5%Q3 2026OECD
C30Canada · Unemployment rate6.91%2025World Bank
C31Canada · Fertility rate1.252024World Bank
C32Canada · Share of population aged 65+20.26%2025World Bank
C33Canada · Population growth0.94%2025World Bank
R82Canada position among OECD member countries by house price growth over 12 months, counted from the lowest (1 = lowest in the OECD)1Q2 2026OECD
R83number of OECD member countries with house price growth over 12 months data for this period31Q2 2026OECD
R84Canada house price growth over 12 months, OECD comparison measure (OECD nominal house price index, 12-month change; can differ from the national release)-4.3%Q2 2026OECD
R259Canada position among OECD member countries by population growth, counted from the highest (1 = highest in the OECD)102025World Bank
R260number of OECD member countries with population growth data for this period382025World Bank
R261Canada population growth, OECD comparison measure (World Bank, population growth; can differ from the national release)0.94%2025World Bank

Sources

  • Source: Statistics Canada. Reproduced and distributed on an "as is" basis with the permission of Statistics Canada — license
  • Source: Eurostat, accessed 2026-11-06 — license
  • Source: OECD, accessed 2026-11-06 — license
  • Source: Statistics Korea (KOSIS), Consumer Price Survey / Economically Active Population Survey, 2026-11-06 — license
  • Source: Office for National Statistics, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 — license
  • Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0) — license
  • Source: Bank of Canada — license
  • Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0) — license

How this report was checked

  • Data: the newest reference period cited is Q3 2026.
  • Figures were collected from the source on
  • Written by an AI model (claude-opus-5-5) using only the official figures listed in this report.
  • Automatic checks passed: every number matches a cited figure, every paragraph names its evidence, and there is no investment advice or copied source text.
  • A separate quality-check model found no unsupported or speculative sentences.
  • No person reviewed this report before publication. Automatic checks confirm the numbers, not every interpretation.
Update history
  • 2026-11-06 14:03 UTC — created
  • 2026-11-06 14:03 UTC — approved+published

This analysis was written by AI from official statistics and passed automated checks. Last checked: 2026-11-06

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