Workforce & Employment Trends
September 2026 snapshot - Ontario's Labour Market
- 8.3 million are employed
- 82% in full-time jobs
- 6.9% are unemployed
The unemployment rate in Ontario was 6.9 % as of September 2026, unchanged from the previous month.
There were 6,600 fewer full-time jobs in September 2026 compared to a month earlier. Combined with a gain of 11,100 part-time positions, this led to an increase of 4,500 total jobs in September.
Full-time employment was down 13,400 jobs from the peak in July 2026.
Woodstock Unemployment Rate
| Month | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| January | 5.7 | 4.4 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 7.7 |
| February | 5.6 | 4.8 | 6.4 | 5.7 | 8.4 |
| March | 5.6 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 8.5 |
| April | 5.1 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 8.2 |
| May | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 7.9 |
| June | 5.8 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 6.5 | 7.3 |
| July | 6.2 | 5.9 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 7.9 |
| August | 6.6 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 8.3 |
| September | 6.3 | 6.4 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 8.3 |
| October | 5.8 | 5.9 | 6.5 | 6.7 | |
| November | 6.1 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 6.4 | |
| December | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 6.9 | |
| Average | 5.8 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
Ontario Unemployment Rate
| Month | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| January | 7.3 | 5.2 | 6.2 | 7.6 | 7.3 |
| February | 5.5 | 5.1 | 6.5 | 7.3 | 7.6 |
| March | 5.3 | 5.1 | 6.7 | 7.5 | 7.6 |
| April | 5.4 | 4.9 | 6.8 | 7.8 | 7.5 |
| May | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 7.9 | 7.0 |
| June | 5.1 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 7.8 | 7.0 |
| July | 5.3 | 5.6 | 6.7 | 7.9 | 6.8 |
| August | 5.7 | 5.9 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 6.9 |
| September | 5.8 | 6.0 | 6.9 | 7.9 | 7.0 |
| October | 5.9 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 7.6 | |
| November | 5.5 | 6.1 | 7.6 | 7.3 | |
| December | 5.3 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 7.9 | |
| Average | 5.6 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 7.7 |
Canada Unemployment Rate
| Month | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| January | 6.5 | 5.0 | 5.7 | 6.6 | 6.5 |
| February | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 6.7 |
| March | 5.3 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 6.7 | 6.7 |
| April | 5.2 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
| May | 5.1 | 5.2 | 6.2 | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| June | 4.9 | 5.4 | 6.4 | 6.9 | 6.5 |
| July | 4.9 | 5.5 | 6,4 | 6.9 | 6.4 |
| August | 5.4 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 7.1 | 6.4 |
| September | 5.2 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 7.1 | 6.5 |
| October | 5.2 | 5.7 | 6.5 | 6.9 | |
| November | 5.1 | 5.8 | 6.8 | 6.5 | |
| December | 5.0 | 5.8 | 6.7 | 6.8 | |
| Average | 5.3 | 5.4 | 6.3 | 6.8 |
Source: Statistics Canada & Ontario.ca , London Free Press and CREA
Since sub-provincial averages are subject to wide margins of errors, the estimates are averaged over a period of three months. The resulting series show less irregular movements, while preserving the underlying trend of the series.
Regional unemployment rates used by the Employment Insurance program, three-month moving average, seasonally adjusted.
The information contained in this report has been prepared by The Woodstock Economic Development Office. The information has been drawn from sources deemed to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information is not guaranteed. In providing this information, the Woodstock Economic Development Office does not assume any responsibility or liability.