Canada Employment September 2025 Sees Strong Growth with 60,000 New Jobs Added

Canada’s job market showed fresh signs of recovery in Canada employment September 2025, as 60,000 new positions were added across key industries. According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, this 0.3% rise brought the total employment rate to 60.6%. The unemployment rate remained steady at 7.1%, reflecting a balanced labour market after months of fluctuation.

The biggest gains came from core-aged workers (25–54 years old), particularly women, who added 76,000 jobs, while men in the same group saw an increase of 33,000. The growth was led by manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture, helping offset declines among older workers aged 55 and up.

Full-time employment surged by 106,000 positions, though part-time jobs dipped by 46,000, a clear sign that employers are seeking more stable, long-term roles amid growing economic activity.

Full-Time Jobs Drive Momentum in September

After two months of modest declines, Canada employment in September 2025 delivered encouraging news for job seekers. The data shows that full-time roles accounted for most of the growth, signaling improving confidence among businesses.

Here’s a quick summary of key highlights from the month:

While youth employment remained stable, older Canadians (55+) saw a decline of 44,000 jobs. Despite this, average hourly wages rose by 3.3% compared to last year, a positive sign for workers battling rising living costs.

Strong Provincial Gains in Alberta, Manitoba, and New Brunswick

Regional trends painted an interesting picture. The largest employment growth occurred in Alberta, which added 43,000 jobs, a 1.7% rise. This rebound helped bring down Alberta’s 0unemployment rate to 7.8%, as the province benefited from a recovery in manufacturing and agriculture.

Other provinces also saw positive movement:

• New Brunswick gained 4,700 jobs (+1.2%)
• Manitoba added 3,900 jobs (+0.5%)

Meanwhile, Newfoundland and Labrador saw a slight dip of 2,200 positions (-0.9%), and Ontario and Quebec remained mostly unchanged.

These regional patterns highlight how labour demand continues to shift toward resource and manufacturing hubs, particularly in Western Canada.

Industries Powering Canada’s Employment Growth

Three industries were the main job creators in September:

• Manufacturing: +28,000 jobs (+1.5%), driven by strong hiring in Ontario and Alberta.
• Healthcare and Social Assistance: +14,000 jobs (+0.5%), fueled by continuing demand for medical and support staff.
• Agriculture: +13,000 jobs (+6.1%), reflecting seasonal and export-driven needs.

On the other hand, wholesale and retail trade saw a drop of 21,000 jobs (-0.7%), indicating a potential slowdown in consumer-facing roles as households continue adjusting to high interest rates and tighter spending.

Labour Market Insights: Skills Mismatch and Worker Trends

A closer look at the September data revealed that 16.4% of core-aged workers with postsecondary education are now working in jobs unrelated to their field, up from last year. This suggests a rising skills mismatch, particularly among recent immigrants, who are more likely to take jobs outside their area of expertise.

Interestingly, 21.8% of educated workers reported being overqualified for their current position, a trend that continues to challenge new graduates and newcomers seeking career-aligned employment opportunities.

Canada Employment September 2025

The Canada employment September 2025 report shows a cautiously optimistic picture, strong job creation, steady unemployment, and rising wages, even as certain sectors and age groups face headwinds. With manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture driving much of the momentum, the focus now shifts to sustaining growth while tackling underemployment and skills alignment across industries. As Canada heads into the final quarter of 2025, a steady job market and improving full-time opportunities suggest that the economy may be on track for a stronger start in 2026.