Best Cities in Canada for Finding Work: Unemployment Rates by City
Where you live can make a big difference to how easy it is to find work. Some cities have more job seekers than jobs, while in others employers struggle to fill positions. This guide uses the latest official data from Statistics Canada, for September 2026, to compare unemployment rates in Canada’s metropolitan areas, and explains what else to consider before choosing a city for work, such as wages, rent and language.
How to Read the Numbers
- Unemployment rate – the share of people in the labour force who are looking for work but do not have a job. A lower rate usually means less competition for each job.
- Employment rate – the share of the working-age population that has a job.
In September 2026, Canada’s unemployment rate was 6.5%, down from 7.0% a year earlier, and the employment rate was 60.8%. The figures below are three-month moving averages, adjusted for seasonal changes.
Canada’s Largest Cities (September 2026)
| Metropolitan area | Unemployment rate | A year earlier | Employment rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Québec, QC | 4.3% | 4.8% | 62.9% |
| Winnipeg, MB | 5.0% | 6.4% | 64.6% |
| Victoria, BC | 5.3% | 4.7% | 60.2% |
| Halifax, NS | 5.8% | 5.6% | 64.3% |
| Saskatoon, SK | 5.9% | 5.3% | 64.7% |
| Calgary, AB | 6.3% | 8.1% | 66.8% |
| Regina, SK | 6.4% | 6.5% | 65.3% |
| Vancouver, BC | 6.5% | 6.3% | 63.5% |
| Montréal, QC | 6.8% | 6.4% | 62.5% |
| Toronto, ON | 6.9% | 8.8% | 62.1% |
| Edmonton, AB | 6.9% | 8.6% | 64.0% |
| Hamilton, ON | 6.9% | 7.2% | 60.7% |
| Ottawa-Gatineau, ON/QC | 7.0% | 7.0% | 61.4% |
| Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, ON | 7.7% | 7.3% | 64.8% |
| London, ON | 8.4% | 6.3% | 57.5% |
Cities With the Lowest Unemployment
Among all metropolitan areas, the lowest unemployment rates in September 2026 were in:
- Saguenay, QC – 3.6%
- Sherbrooke, QC – 4.0%
- Québec, QC – 4.3%
- Thunder Bay, ON – 4.3%
- Kamloops, BC – 4.4%
- Drummondville, QC – 4.8%
- Winnipeg, MB – 5.0%
Several of these are in Quebec, where French is the main language of work, so French skills are usually needed. The highest rates were in Kelowna, BC (9.3%), Oshawa, ON (8.9%) and London, ON (8.4%).
What Changed in the Last Year
- Big improvements – unemployment fell in Toronto (8.8% to 6.9%), Calgary (8.1% to 6.3%), Edmonton (8.6% to 6.9%), Winnipeg (6.4% to 5.0%) and Windsor (10.4% to 7.3%).
- Rising unemployment – it went up in London (6.3% to 8.4%) and Kelowna (7.1% to 9.3%).
Estimates for smaller cities can move a lot from month to month, so look at the trend rather than a single number.
Wages Differ by Province Too
A city with low unemployment is not always the one that pays most. In 2025, according to Statistics Canada, the median hourly wage for all jobs was highest in British Columbia ($32.49), Alberta ($32.00) and Ontario ($31.25), and lowest in Prince Edward Island ($26.63) and Manitoba ($26.75). Our salary guide has the full table by province and by type of job.
Before You Move for Work
- Check the cost of housing. Rent can take a large part of your pay, especially in large cities. CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) publishes rental market data by city.
- Think about language. In most of Quebec, French is needed for many jobs; in other provinces, English is the main language of work.
- Look at transportation. Some jobs, such as warehouse or overnight shifts, are easier to reach by car than by public transit.
- Check licences and credentials. Regulated professions and trades are licensed by each province, so your licence may need to be transferred.
- Line up a job if you can. Applying and interviewing remotely before you move reduces the risk.
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0459-01, “Labour force characteristics by census metropolitan area, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted”, September 2026 and September 2025; wages from Table 14-10-0417-01, 2025.