Trump Insists Canada Has ‘Big Unemployment.’ Here’s What the Data Says

Despite the job losses, Canada’s unemployment rate in August remained steady at 6.4%, following three consecutive monthly declines from May through July. The unemployment rate is lower in comparison to August 2025, when it stood at 7.1%.

Meanwhile, the employment rate in Canada—the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who are employed—decreased slightly, from 60.9% to 60.8%.

Canada “does not currently have an unemployment problem,” says Steinberg, reflecting on the data.

“Broadly speaking, the labor market in Canada is doing just fine. The unemployment rate is relatively stable,” he adds. “Trump is [also] ranting about immigration as a big problem, but right now Canada’s immigration rate is actually quite low.”

Canada revised its immigration policy in late 2024, in an effort to curb rapid population growth that outpaced job creation. According to federal figures compiled by Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the number of permanent residents admitted in 2025 was around 328,000, compared to 419,000 the year before.