Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.8 Percent in December: Statistics Canada

The unemployment rate in Canada has increased despite adding 50,000 full-time jobs to the economy last month, according to Statistics Canada.

StatCan said the unemployment rate increased to 6.8 percent in December 2025, up from 6.5 percent in November.

The agency said the rise partially offsets a cumulative decline of 0.6 percentage points in October and November. StatCan added that the increase was due to more people searching for work.

The number of full-time workers increased by 50,000 or 0.3 percent, while part-time job employment dropped by 42,000 or 1.1 percent. StatCan said the decline in part-time work partially offset a gain of 3.9 percent in October and November.

The numbers also show that part-time employment increased faster than full-time employment over the past year, at 2.6 percent and 0.7 percent respectively.

In total, there were 1.6 million people without employment in December, according to StatCan.

The health and social assistance sector saw the largest growth with 21,000 jobs or 0.7 percent, on top of an increase of 46,000 in November. StatCan said the sector saw a 6.9 percent increase on a year-over-year basis.

For those aged 55 years and older, employment increased by 33,000 jobs or 0.8 percent, and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 5.1 percent in December, according to StatCan.

Employment among those aged 15 to 24 years fell by 27,000 or 1 percent, bringing the unemployment rate to 13.3 percent.

StatCan said that drop comes after labour market conditions had improved for youth in October and November, with employment increasing by 70,000 or 2.6 percent, and the unemployment rate dropping 1.9 percentage points.

Hourly wages for employees saw a 3.4 percent boost on a year-over-year basis, according to the agency, which said they increased by $1.23 to $37.06. The gain comes after a 3.6 percent rise in November.

Provincial Breakdown

Quebec saw the largest gain in employment, adding 16,000 jobs (0.3 percent). It was the first significant gain in the province since June 2025, StatCan said. The province saw the unemployment rate increase 0.3 percentage points to 5.4 percent, as more people were looking for work, the agency said.

Alberta saw the largest drop in employment, losing 14,000 jobs, which partially offset an increase of 29,000 jobs in November. On a year-over-year basis, employment in Alberta was up 2.3 percent, or 58,000 jobs. StatCan said the unemployment rate in the province was 6.8 percent, or on par with the 6.7 percent recorded for Alberta in 2024.

Saskatchewan also saw job losses, with a drop of 4,000 jobs or 0.6 percent, leading to an increase in the provincial unemployment rate to 6.5 percent.

StatCan said there was little change to employment levels in the other provinces.