What the Numbers Imply Heading Into This autumn

September 2026 Unemployment Stats: What the Numbers Imply Heading Into This autumn 

September is usually a month when the Canadian job market picks again up. Summer season holidays have wrapped up, decision-makers return to the workplace, college students head again to highschool, and companies flip their consideration to what must be completed earlier than fiscal finish.  

After Canada misplaced 42,000 Jobs in August and the nationwide unemployment price remained at 6.4%, we have been watching September carefully to see whether or not the autumn would deliver a renewed power to the labour market. 

Canada’s unemployment price elevated from 6.4% to six.5% in September, whereas employment decreased by 68,000 Jobs. If we examine this to final 12 months, employment remains to be up 95,000 positions. 

Once more, youth noticed the largest loss with 48,000 fewer Jobs which doesn’t come as a shock after summer time hiring involves an in depth. We will have a look at some optimistic numbers. Alberta added 23,000 Jobs with the bulk falling into “different companies” like upkeep and restore, and the common Canadian wages have elevated 2.3% to $37.64. 

What Does a Increased Unemployment Fee Imply? 

A rise in unemployment doesn’t essentially imply companies have stopped hiring. 

The unemployment price can transfer on account of modifications in employment in addition to extra folks getting into or returning to the work power and actively on the lookout for work. We spoke to International Calgary earlier this week to discuss interprovincial migration and Canada’s continued progress. Click here to watch the Global story.

What IT does inform us is that competitors amongst job seekers stays excessive. 

For employers, a bigger candidate pool might sound like hiring needs to be simpler. However extra candidates don’t routinely imply extra certified candidates, and that’s necessary to know. 

We proceed to see employers on the lookout for particular expertise, technical capacity, gentle expertise, availability, and tradition match. A job posting might obtain loads of functions whereas the employer nonetheless struggles to establish the fitting particular person for the place. 

For job seekers, this implies being intentional issues. Sending the identical resumé to dozens of employers will not be sufficient in a aggressive market. Be certain that your software clearly connects your expertise and transferable expertise to the place you’re making use of for. 

The Variety of Job Seekers Doesn’t Inform the Entire Story 

One development continues to face out: there could be a disconnect between the variety of folks on the lookout for work and the abilities employers are on the lookout for. 

A current Statistics Canada report discovered there have been roughly 510,200 job vacancies throughout Canada within the second quarter of 2026. On the identical time, employers have typically been taking extra time to fill vacancies. 

Employers might have entry to a bigger pool of candidates, however discovering the proper particular person nonetheless takes work. Job seekers might even see loads of competitors, however employers are nonetheless hiring the place there’s a real enterprise want. 

That’s the place recruitment turns into much less about amassing functions and extra about making the fitting match. 

What We’re Seeing at About Staffing 

“The labour market numbers solely inform a part of the story. What we’re seeing behind the numbers is a rising degree of worker dissatisfaction and burn out, with medical leaves and sudden resignations reaching unprecedented ranges. 

The market is changing into more and more aggressive being saturated with not solely these unemployed but in addition those that are presently employed and seeking to make a transfer.  

Employers are navigating a difficult time the place quick and long-term absences and sudden resignations are shortly impacting enterprise operations.  

All of that is making contingency planning and entry to versatile expertise extra necessary than ever.” 

— Cristina Schultz, Recruitment Supervisor, About Staffing 

Heading Into the Last Quarter of 2026 

October marks the start of the ultimate push of the 12 months, and for a lot of organizations, which means trying carefully at what nonetheless must be completed earlier than December 31. 

Initiatives must be accomplished. Vacancies must be crammed. Vacation protection must be deliberate. Some organizations are additionally starting to consider budgets and staffing necessities for 2027. 

For employers, now is an efficient time to ask: 

The place are the gaps on our crew? 

What work must be accomplished earlier than year-end? 

Do we’d like a everlasting worker, or might short-term or contract assist assist us accomplish what we’d like? 

Are there positions we’re struggling to fill as a result of we haven’t discovered the fitting particular person? 

For job seekers, This autumn can create alternatives by means of everlasting vacancies, year-end tasks, short-term protection, seasonal necessities, and organizations getting ready for the brand new 12 months. Maintain the door open to work chances are you’ll not have beforehand thought of like short-term or contract roles that may typically result in full time positions.