Workforce & Employment Trends
May 2026 snapshot - Ontario's Labour Market
- 8.3 million are employed
- 83% in full-time jobs
- 7.0% are unemployed
The unemployment rate in Ontario was 7.0 % as of May 2026, up 0.5% from the previous month.
There were 34,400 more full-time jobs in May 2026 compared to a month earlier. Combined with a loss of 8,200 part-time positions, this led to an increase of 26,200 total jobs in May.
Full-time employment has recovered since reaching a bottom in March 2026 and now stands at a record high.
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 | |
| July | 6.2 | 5.9 | 6.6 | 6.4 | |
| August | 6.6 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 6.4 | |
| September | 6.3 | 6.4 | 7.2 | 6.7 | |
| 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 | |
| July | 5.3 | 5.6 | 6.7 | 7.9 | |
| August | 5.7 | 5.9 | 7.1 | 7.8 | |
| September | 5.8 | 6.0 | 6.9 | 7.9 | |
| 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 | |
| July | 4.9 | 5.5 | 6,4 | 6.9 | |
| August | 5.4 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 7.1 | |
| September | 5.2 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 7.1 | |
| 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.