Economics

National employment numbers for May from Statistics Canada, at a glance

By
The Canadian Press

Updated: 

Published: 

Job seekers get assistance with resumes at an immigrant job, career, education and settlement fair, in Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

OTTAWA — A quick look at Canada’s May employment figures (numbers from the previous month in brackets):

  • Unemployment rate: 6.6 per cent (6.9)
  • Employment rate: 60.7 per cent (60.5)
  • Participation rate: 65.0 per cent (65.0)
  • Number unemployed: 1,482,400 (1,566,400)
  • Number working: 21,121,500 (21,033,700)
  • Youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate: 13.4 per cent (14.3)
  • Men (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.6 per cent (5.8)
  • Women (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.3 per cent (5.7)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2026.