Quick facts

In December 2017, there were 11.8 million people in Ontario aged 15 years or older, 7.6 million, or (65%), were either working or actively looking for work. Of this population, 7.2 million, or 61%, were employed and 81% of them had a full time job.

Ontario’s unemployment rate was 5.5%, with 422,600 unemployed people

Employment increased in December

Employment in Ontario increased by 1,900 jobs in December, following an increase of 43,500 new jobs in November.

Chart 1 shows employment in Ontario from January 2012 to December 2017.

Line graph for chart 1 shows employment in Ontario increasing from 6,669,800 in January 2012 to 7,220,800 in December 2017.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 282-0087, (seasonally adjusted data).

Download data from Chart 1

Full-time vs. part-time

There was a gain in part-time jobs (15,000) in December. Full-time jobs declined by 13,200.

Employment increase/decrease by age

Youth employment (those aged 15 to 24) declined by 10,000 jobs in December, following an increase of 16,600 jobs in November.

People ages 25 to 54 saw an increase in employment of 3,600 in December compared to November and those 55 and older gained 8,300 jobs.

Employment in Canada increased by 78,600 in December, following an increase of 79,500 jobs in November.

Employment in 2017

In 2017, Ontario employment rose by 128,400 net new jobs, the largest annual increase since 2003. Nationally, employment increased by 79,000 net new jobs in 2017.

Unemployment rate remained at 5.5%

Chart 2 shows unemployment rates, Ontario and Canada, January 2012 to December 2017.

Line graph in chart 2.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 282-0087, (seasonally adjusted data).

Download data from Chart 2

Ontario’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.5% in December, matching November as the lowest unemployment rate since July 2000 (5.4%).

Canada’s unemployment rate decreased to 5.7% in December, from 5.9% in November and was the lowest rate on record.

Unemployment rate by age

The unemployment rate for youth (those aged 15 to 24) decreased to 11.1% in December from 11.2% in November.

The unemployment rates for people ages 25 to 54 decreased from 4.7% in November to 4.5% in December and from 4.4% to 4.2% for those 55 and older.

Unemployment rate in 2017

Ontario’s unemployment rate fell to 6.0% in 2017 from 6.5% in 2016. Nationally, Canada’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.3% in 2017 from 7.0% in 2016.

Lowest and highest unemployment rates

Chart 3 shows Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with highest and lowest unemployment rates in Canada, December 2017.

Bar graph in chart 3.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 282-0135, (seasonally adjusted data to reduce volatility caused by small sample size).

Download data from Chart 3

Barrie, Ontario recorded the lowest unemployment rate (3.3%) in Canada in December and St. John’s, Newfoundland recorded the highest rate (8.2%).

St. Catharines-Niagara had the highest unemployment rate in Ontario (6.8%) in December.

In 2017, Brantford (4.8%) recorded the lowest unemployment rate in Ontario, while Greater Sudbury recorded the highest rate, at 6.7%.

Annual comparisons

In 2017, employment in Ontario increased by an estimated 104,400 jobs for adults 25 years and older compared to 2016.

Employment increase and decrease by education level

Chart 4 shows Ontario employment change by highest level of education attained, aged 25 and older, 2016 to 2017.

Bar graph in chart 4.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 282-0004, annual.

Download data from Chart 4

People with a high school level education gained the most jobs, with 83,400 net new jobs.

Those with a university degree had job gains of 53,700, while those with a postsecondary education (PSE) certificate or diploma lost 5,800 jobs.

People with less than high school education had job losses of 15,200 and those with some PSE had job losses of 11,700.

Unemployment rate by education level

The unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and older with PSE credentials was 4.3% in 2017, down from 4.7% a year ago.

The unemployment rate for adults without PSE credentials was 6.3%, down from 6.7% a year earlier.

Employment increase and decrease by occupation

Chart 5 shows Ontario employment change by occupation, 2016 to 2017.

Bar graph in chart 5.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 282-0042, annual.

Download data from Chart 5

Six of the ten major occupational groups in Ontario had employment growth in 2017 compared to a year ago.

Learn more about the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system.

These occupations gained the most jobs:

  • Management (48,700)
  • Health (47,900)
  • Sales and service (40,200)

These occupations lost the most jobs:

  • Education, law and social, community and government services (55,600)
  • Natural resources, agriculture and related production (4,700)
  • Business, finance and administration (500)

Long-term unemployment decreased

Chart 6 shows Ontario’s long-term unemployed (27 weeks or more) as a percentage of total unemployment, 2009 to 2017.

Bar graph in chart 6.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 282-0048, annual.

Download data from Chart 6

In 2017, an estimated 87,900 people were unemployed for 27 weeks or more, or in long-term unemployment. This was down from 97,600 in 2016 and well above pre-recessionary levels.

Long-term unemployed individuals accounted for 19.5% of the total number of unemployed people in 2017. Compare this with 19.9% a year earlier.

Average time in long-term unemployment

The average time in unemployment decreased to 19.3 weeks in 2017 from 19.9 weeks a year earlier.

Download data

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey
December 2017 Labour Market Report:

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