Canada loses 68,000 jobs in September as unemployment rises to 6.5 percent

Canada lost 68,000 net jobs in September 2026, according to official figures released by Statistics Canada on October 9, 2026. The decrease marked a second straight monthly decline in employment across the country.

The unexpected net loss of 68,000 positions pushed the national unemployment rate up by 0.1 percentage points. With that increase, the unemployment rate in Canada reached 6.5 percent for the month of September 2026.

Consecutive Declines End Labor Market Strength

The September contraction followed a net decline of 42,000 jobs in August 2026. Combined, the losses in August and September totaled 110,000 net jobs lost over a two-month span.

These consecutive monthly declines snapped a prior period of labor market strength in Canada. Before August 2026, the Canadian labor market had demonstrated ongoing strength, but the consecutive drops in August and September halted that trend.

The rise to a 6.5 percent unemployment rate in September 2026 also returned national unemployment to the exact level recorded at the start of 2026. The 0.1 percentage point increase in September erased previous progress made earlier in the year.

Results Fall Short of Economic Forecasts

The contraction reported by Statistics Canada was a sharp surprise relative to financial market expectations. Before the official data was published on October 9, 2026, economists had forecasted that Canada would post a net gain of 9,200 jobs in September 2026.

Instead of adding the forecasted 9,200 net jobs, the Canadian economy contracted by 68,000 net jobs. The difference between the forecasted net gain of 9,200 jobs and the actual net loss of 68,000 jobs reflected a significant shortfall in national employment performance for September.

The government statistics were reported broadly by major Canadian news outlets, including CBC News, following the release by Statistics Canada on October 9, 2026.

Key Labor Market Figures

• September 2026 net job change: Loss of 68,000 jobs
• August 2026 net job change: Loss of 42,000 jobs
• Forecasted September job change: Net gain of 9,200 jobs
• National unemployment rate: 6.5 percent (up 0.1 percentage points)
• Reporting agency and date: Statistics Canada, October 9, 2026