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

By Canadian Press on January 9, 2026.

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

Unemployment rate: 6.8 per cent (6.5)

Employment rate: 60.9 per cent (60.9)

Participation rate: 65.4 per cent (65.1)

Number unemployed: 1,550,700 (1,477,800)

Number working: 21,143,700 (21,135,500)

Youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate: 13.3 per cent (12.8)

Men (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.9 per cent (5.6)

Women (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.6 per cent (5.4)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2026.

The Canadian Press