Canada at a Glance, 2022
Labour

Chart 25 Proportion of the population in the labour force, 2021

Data table for Chart 25 
Data table for chart 25
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 25 2021, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
2021
percent
In the labour force 65.1
Not in the labour force 34.9

Labour force… in brief

In Canada, the labour force is defined as the civilian non-institutional population aged 15 and older who are participating in the labour market, whether they are employed or unemployed. It excludes individuals who were not available to work or not looking for work, such as full-time students, people unable to work and retirees.

Chart 26 Annual unemployment rate, Canada, provinces and territories

Data table for Chart 26 
Data table for chart 26
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for chart 26 2011 and 2021, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
2011 2021
percent
Nunavut 17.1 10.1
Northwest Territories 7.7 5.2
Yukon 5.4 5.5
British Columbia 7.7 6.5
Alberta 5.5 8.7
Saskatchewan 5.0 6.5
Manitoba 5.5 6.4
Ontario 7.9 8.0
Quebec 7.9 6.1
New Brunswick 9.5 9.0
Nova Scotia 9.1 8.4
Prince Edward Island 11.2 9.2
Newfoundland and Labrador 12.8 12.9
Canada 7.6 7.5

Unemployment rates… in brief

Unemployment rates and labour force participation are calculated using data from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey. Thanks to the participation of the population in this survey by phone, in person and online, we can also provide various statistics on the characteristics of Canada’s labour market among population groups, such as hours worked, wages and employment.


Table 19
Average weekly wages, by industry
Table summary
This table displays the results of Average weekly wages 2011, 2016 and 2021, calculated using current dollars units of measure (appearing as column headers).
2011 2016 2021
current dollars
Total employees, all industries 836.08 938.97 1,098.97
Goods-producing sector 986.72 1,108.31 1,258.67
Agriculture 573.56 681.03 791.31
Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 1,370.26 1,594.65 1,849.86
Utilities 1,297.17 1,445.87 1,760.80
Construction 1,008.89 1,150.92 1,276.22
Manufacturing 907.52 999.38 1,136.90
Services-producing sector 794.92 894.83 1,058.60
Wholesale and retail trade 607.42 692.15 792.80
Transportation and warehousing 902.13 995.55 1,167.02
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 933.54 1,108.79 1,325.01
Professional, scientific and technical services 1,095.15 1,257.22 1,413.59
Business, building and other support services 625.25 688.72 838.24
Educational services 982.83 1,090.64 1,203.14
Health care and social assistance 814.15 899.73 1,010.10
Information, culture and recreation 778.97 835.06 1,107.48
Accommodation and food services 395.54 429.95 493.32
Other services (except public administration) 706.63 794.16 944.85
Public administration 1,142.42 1,288.65 1,464.28

Did you know?Note

  • Across all sectors, employers in Canada were actively seeking to fill about 1 million (1,001,100) vacant positions in early April 2022, up 44.4% (+308,000) from April 2021 (not seasonally adjusted).
  • The job vacancy rate, which corresponds to the number of vacant positions as a proportion of total labour demand (the sum of filled and vacant positions) was 5.8% in April 2022, up from 4.4% in April 2021.
  • There was an average of 1.1 unemployed people for each vacant position in April 2022, down from 2.4 a year earlier.

To learn more

Labour statistics (statcan.gc.ca)

 
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