Right now in Canada, a lot of people are having job troubles, no jobs available anywhere.

In May 2025, not many new jobs were added — just about 8,800 — which means the number of people working stayed mostly the same. But more people are now without jobs. The unemployment rate went up to 7.0%, which is the highest it’s been since 2016 (not counting the pandemic years).

Who’s Working and Who’s Not?

• Women aged 25 to 54: More got jobs in May (+42,000).

• Men aged 25 to 54: Fewer had jobs (-31,000), and their job rate is now the lowest since 2018.

• Young people and seniors: Job numbers stayed mostly the same.

Where Jobs Were Gained (and Lost)

More jobs were added in:

• Stores and shops like grocery or clothing stores

• Fun places like movie theatres and sports centres

• Banks and real estate

• Utilities (like electricity companies)

Jobs were lost in:

• Government offices

• Restaurants and hotels

• Transportation (like trucking or delivery)

• Business support (like cleaning or maintenance companies)

Which Provinces Changed the Most?

• B.C., Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick got more jobs.

• Quebec, Manitoba, and P.E.I. lost jobs.

• Ontario didn’t change much, but big cities like Windsor, Oshawa, and Toronto have some of the highest jobless rates in the country.

Wages Are Up — But So Is Job Searching

On average, people are earning $36.14/hour, which is a little more than last year. But people looking for jobs are having a tough time:

• It’s taking longer — about 22 weeks (more than 5 months) to find a job.

• Almost half of unemployed people haven’t worked in a year — or ever.

What About Students?

Students trying to get summer jobs are really feeling it:

• The jobless rate for students (ages 15 to 24) jumped to 20.1%.

• For young men, it’s even higher: 22.1%.

• Most student jobs are in retail, fast food, or recreation — and many of those jobs are disappearing.

Spotlight on Indigenous Communities

In May, Indigenous employment rates were mostly stable:

• First Nations adults off-reserve had a job rate of 68.2%

• Métis adults had an increase to 81.1%

• Inuit employment in Nunavut stayed about the same at 55.8%

But among Indigenous youth, job rates were lower and in some cases, getting worse — especially in Nunavut.

🔍 What This Means

Even though some people and places are doing okay, the overall picture shows more Canadians are looking for work and not finding it. It’s a sign that the job market is getting tougher — especially for men, students, and certain regions.

If you or someone you know is looking for work or worried about money, it might be time to explore new training, support programs, or even financial options to stay ahead.