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

Job seekers get assistance with resumes at an immigrant job, career, education and settlement fair, in Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

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

• Unemployment rate: 6.6 per cent (6.9)
• Employment rate: 60.7 per cent (60.5)
• Participation rate: 65.0 per cent (65.0)
• Number unemployed: 1,482,400 (1,566,400)
• Number working: 21,121,500 (21,033,700)
• Youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate: 13.4 per cent (14.3)
• Men (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.6 per cent (5.8)
• Women (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.3 per cent (5.7)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2026.