Canadian economy bled 66,000 jobs in August as unemployment rate at its highest since ‘pandemic days’
Canada’s unemployment rate reached nearly its highest point since 2016 as the economy shed 66,000 jobs in August, according to new data from Statistics Canada.
The unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points in August to 7.1 per cent, a level last seen in May 2016 if the COVID-19 years of 2020 and 2021 were excluded, the data agency said.
The unemployment rate, or the number of people unemployed out of the total population, has been rising consistently this year, up from a 6.6 per cent rate in January.
Canadians are increasingly not confident in Carney to deliver a good deal for Canada in Canada-US trade negotiations
– Angus Reid – pic.twitter.com/0wBGO5EpnB
— Polling Canada (@CanadianPolling) September 5, 2025
