Wages and jobs
Are wages
keeping up?
Over the 12 months to August 2026, the average hourly wage in Canada changed +2.0% while consumer prices changed +3.0%: wages fell 1.0 points behind prices.
Jobs and pay
Jobs and real wages in Canada
August 2026
- Unemployment rate
- 6.4%
- Unemployment change, 12 months
- −0.7 pts
- Employment rate
- 60.8%
- Participation rate
- 65.0%
- Job vacancy rate (Jun 2026)
- 2.9%
- Real wage growth
- −1.0 pts
Over the 12 months to August 2026, the average hourly wage changed +2.0% and consumer prices +3.0%, so pay lost 1.0 points to prices. Rates are seasonally adjusted, for people aged 15 and over.
Show the data as a table
| Month | Real wage growth (points) |
|---|---|
| August 2017 | +0.6 |
| August 2018 | −0.7 |
| August 2019 | +1.3 |
| August 2020 | +6.2 |
| August 2021 | −2.2 |
| August 2022 | −2.1 |
| August 2023 | +0.9 |
| August 2024 | +3.0 |
| August 2025 | +1.3 |
| August 2026 | −1.0 |
The 2020 spike is not a pay boom: pandemic job losses fell mostly on lower-paid workers, which pushed the average wage of those still employed up. The average moves with the mix of jobs as well as with pay rates.
Latest data: August 2026Sources
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0287-01, Table 14-10-0371-01, Table 14-10-0063-01, Table 18-10-0004-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Calculated by CostWatch using Statistics Canada data.Adapted from Statistics Canada Table 14-10-0287-01, Table 14-10-0371-01, Table 14-10-0063-01, Table 18-10-0004-01, August 2026. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
By province
Real wage growth by province
12 months to August 2026
| Province | Wage growth | Price growth (CPI) | Real wage growth | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | +4.0% | +3.0% | +1.0 pts | 6.5% |
| Quebec | +3.3% | +3.1% | +0.2 pts | 5.6% |
| New Brunswick | +4.4% | +4.6% | −0.2 pts | 7.3% |
| Nova Scotia | +4.6% | +5.1% | −0.5 pts | 6.1% |
| Prince Edward Island | +3.5% | +4.4% | −0.9 pts | 7.9% |
| Ontario | +0.8% | +2.4% | −1.6 pts | 6.9% |
| Manitoba | +2.7% | +4.4% | −1.7 pts | 5.0% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | +1.3% | +4.3% | −3.0 pts | 8.6% |
| Saskatchewan | +0.2% | +3.5% | −3.3 pts | 6.0% |
| Alberta | +0.5% | +3.8% | −3.3 pts | 6.8% |
Real wage growth = 12-month change in the average hourly wage minus 12-month change in the Consumer Price Index (all items), same month and province. Positive means pay is rising faster than prices. The average wage also moves when the mix of jobs changes.
Latest data: August 2026Sources
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0063-01, Table 18-10-0004-01, Table 14-10-0287-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Calculated by CostWatch using Statistics Canada data.Adapted from Statistics Canada Table 14-10-0063-01, Table 18-10-0004-01, Table 14-10-0287-01, August 2026. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
By industry
Average hourly wage by industry, Canada
August 2026
| Industry | Average hourly wage | 12-month change | Real (minus CPI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | $49.48 | +0.2% | −2.8 pts |
| Public administration | $47.08 | +3.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | $46.68 | +5.2% | +2.2 pts |
| Educational services | $44.59 | +1.7% | −1.3 pts |
| Construction | $38.27 | +2.9% | −0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | $35.73 | +1.2% | −1.8 pts |
| Health care and social assistance | $35.64 | +2.7% | −0.3 pts |
| Transportation and warehousing | $34.64 | +1.3% | −1.7 pts |
| Wholesale and retail trade | $28.23 | +1.6% | −1.4 pts |
| Accommodation and food services | $21.47 | +2.1% | −0.9 pts |
Latest data: August 2026Sources
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0063-01, Table 18-10-0004-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Calculated by CostWatch using Statistics Canada data.Adapted from Statistics Canada Table 14-10-0063-01, Table 18-10-0004-01, August 2026. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Ten-year view
Unemployment rate in Canada
Seasonally adjusted, 15 years and over
Show the data as a table
| Month | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| August 2016 | 6.9% |
| August 2017 | 6.2% |
| August 2018 | 6.0% |
| August 2019 | 5.7% |
| August 2020 | 10.1% |
| August 2021 | 7.1% |
| August 2022 | 5.2% |
| August 2023 | 5.4% |
| August 2024 | 6.6% |
| August 2025 | 7.1% |
| August 2026 | 6.4% |
Latest data: August 2026Sources
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 14-10-0287-01Updated by CostWatch: September 27, 2026Adapted from Statistics Canada, Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, August 2026. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.