The May unemployment data from Statistics Canada reveals a significant variation in joblessness across Canadian cities, with Windsor, Ont., experiencing the highest rate at 8.5 per cent, while Saguenay, Que., enjoys the lowest at just 1.8 per cent.
Windsor’s unemployment rate saw a slight increase from 8.4 per cent in the previous period, reflecting ongoing economic challenges in the region. Similarly, Toronto and St. Catharines-Niagara, Ont., both with unemployment rates of 7.9 per cent, remain among the cities with the highest jobless rates.
Jump in Calgary’s jobless rate
Calgary has also seen a notable increase, rising to 8.1 per cent from 7.7 per cent. Edmonton, Hamilton, and Regina are among other cities with relatively high rates, each showing figures around the 7 per cent mark.
Conversely, Quebec cities demonstrate relatively low unemployment figures. Quebec City, for example, reports a rate of 3.2 per cent, up marginally from 3.1 per cent. Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières also show stable rates at 4.3 per cent and 5.2 per cent, respectively.
Atlantic provinces
In the Atlantic provinces, Saint John, N.B., has an unemployment rate of 7.8 per cent, up from 6.5 per cent, indicating a sharp increase. Halifax, however, has a more moderate rate of 5.5 per cent.
Ontario
Ontario cities display mixed results. Oshawa reports an unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent, slightly down from 5.4 per cent, while Kingston has improved from 6.4 per cent to 5.8 per cent. Barrie and London show rates of 6.1 per cent and 6.3 per cent, respectively.
Western Canada
Western cities also show varied figures. Vancouver’s unemployment rate stands at 5.7 per cent, with Victoria at 4.7 per cent. Lethbridge, Alta., has seen a decrease to 5.8 percent from 6.4 percent.
The Prairie provinces also exhibit differences, with Winnipeg at 5.0 per cent and Saskatoon at 5.3 per cent. Regina’s rate stands at 7.0 per cent.
Unemployment rates by city (Highest to lowest)
| City | Unemployment Rate (%) | Previous Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Windsor, Ont. | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| Toronto | 7.9 | 7.7 |
| St. Catharines-Niagara, Ont. | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Saint John, N.B. | 7.8 | 6.5 |
| Calgary | 8.1 | 7.7 |
| St. John’s, N.L. | 7.3 | 7.1 |
| Hamilton, Ont. | 7.0 | 6.6 |
| Regina | 7.0 | 6.4 |
| Edmonton | 6.6 | 6.4 |
| London, Ont. | 6.3 | 6.4 |
| Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ont. | 6.1 | 6.2 |
| Barrie, Ont. | 6.1 | 6.5 |
| Montreal | 5.8 | 5.7 |
| Kingston, Ont. | 5.8 | 6.4 |
| Lethbridge, Alta. | 5.8 | 6.4 |
| Vancouver | 5.7 | 5.3 |
| Halifax | 5.5 | 5.1 |
| Ottawa | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| Abbotsford-Mission, B.C. | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| Gatineau, Que. | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Saskatoon | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Greater Sudbury, Ont. | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Moncton, N.B. | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Trois-Rivières, Que. | 5.2 | 5.5 |
| Oshawa, Ont. | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| Belleville, Ont. | 5.4 | 4.8 |
| Winnipeg | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| Brantford, Ont. | 4.9 | 5.0 |
| Victoria | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| Peterborough, Ont. | 4.5 | 6.0 |
| Sherbrooke, Que. | 4.3 | 5.0 |
| Kelowna, B.C. | 4.3 | 4.9 |
| Guelph, Ont. | 4.2 | 4.4 |
| Thunder Bay, Ont. | 3.4 | 4.2 |
| Quebec City | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| Saguenay, Que. | 1.8 | 2.2 |