OTTAWA – Fresh labour market numbers show Canada’s economy shed jobs for a second straight month in September.
Statistics Canada says the economy lost 68,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate ticked higher to 6.5 per cent.
Young workers aged 15 to 24 bore the brunt of the losses last month with 48,000 fewer jobs, though women aged 25 to 54 also saw employment levels fall.
StatCan says job losses were split between full- and part-time work and were concentrated in the public sector.
The educational services, healthcare and manufacturing industries led the declines last month, with some gains from a segment that includes repair, maintenance and other household services.
September’s employment figures fell short of economists’ call for a gain of 9,200 jobs and offset what had been a hot streak for the labour market through the spring and early summer.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2026.
