2025 jobs numbers mask uncertainty and growing disparities

Statistics Canada data show Canada’s unemployment rate rose to 6.8% in December 2025 while overall employment grew about 1% for the year, and part-time positions and multiple-job holders increased.

Statistics Canada released monthly and annual labour figures for 2025 that combine modest national gains with uneven local and demographic patterns. The national unemployment rate rose to 6.8 per cent in December, while employment for the year increased by about one per cent compared with 2024. Economists quoted in the release noted that headline numbers can hide differences across provinces, age groups and genders. They also highlighted rising part-time work and a growing number of people holding multiple jobs. Key figures from the 2025 labour data: - The unemployment rate was 6.8% in December 2025, up from 6.5% the month before. - Overall employment rose roughly 1% year-over-year, and Canada added 8,200 jobs in December. - Part-time jobs increased in British Columbia and the number of people holding multiple jobs reached a 10-year high of 1,178,600. - Annual unemployment for workers aged 15 to 24 was 13.8% in 2025, up from 13.1% in 2024. Summary: The data show modest national employment growth alongside clear disparities by region, age and job type, with economists noting signs of income and job precarity for some groups. Observed increases in part-time work and multiple-job holding underline those uneven experiences. Undetermined at this time.