Quick facts

In February 2017, there were 11.6 million people in Ontario aged 15 years or older. Of this population, 7.6 million people, or 65 percent, were either working or actively looking for work and 7.1 million people were employed, 80% of them had a full time job.

The unemployment rate was 6.2% and 469,200 people were unemployed.

Employment increased in February

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

Line graph shows monthly employment increasing from 6,669,800 to 7,080,000 from January 2012 to February 2017.

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

Ontario gained 4,600 net-new jobs in February, following a 28,800 increase in January.

Employment in Canada overall rose by 15,300 jobs following a gain of 48,300 jobs in the previous month.

Full-time vs. part-time

Full-time employment increased by 53,200 and part-time employment declined by 48,600. Employment has increased seven months in a row.

Employment increase/ decrease by age

Ontario’s youth employment, ages 15 to 24 years, gained 7,500 jobs after a decrease of 3,400 jobs in January.

For people ages 25 to 54, employment fell by 4,400 jobs. For those aged 55 and older, employment increased by 4,800 jobs.

Unemployment rate declined to 6.2%

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

Line graph shows unemployment rate trend lines from January 2012 to February 2017, one for Ontario and another for Canada, showing trends as noted in the percentages that follow.

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

Ontario’s unemployment rate declined to 6.2% in February 2017, matching November 2016 as the lowest unemployment rate since October 2007, which was 6.1%.

The unemployment rate has remained below 7.0% since January 2015, and below the national rate.

Decrease in youth unemployment rate

Ontario’s youth unemployment rate decreased to 13.9% in February, from 15.6% in January.

Unemployment rate for adults

For people ages 25 to 54 years, the unemployment rate increased to 5.1% in February, from 4.9% in January. The rate for those 55 and older increased to 5.3% from 5.1%.

The national unemployment rate fell from 6.8% in January to 6.6% in February.

Lowest and highest unemployment rates

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

Bar graph shows the CMAs with the five highest and lowest unemployment rates in February 2017. Values expressed as percent.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 282-0135, (seasonally adjusted, 3-month moving average data to reduce volatility caused by small sample size).

Brantford, a city in southwestern Ontario, had the lowest unemployment rate for February 2017, at 4.2% in Ontario, and was the lowest rate nationally.

Greater Sudbury, in northeastern Ontario, recorded the highest unemployment rate in Ontario, at 7.9%. Calgary recorded the highest unemployment rate nationally, at 9.4%.

Year-over-year comparisons

Employment increase and decrease by education level

In the first two months of 2017, employment increased by an estimated 96,500 jobs for adults 25 years and older compared to the first two months of 2016.

  • People with a high school level education led gains, with 66,000 net new jobs.
  • Individuals with a university degree recorded job gains of 47,400, while those with a postsecondary education (PSE) certificate or diploma gained 13,700 jobs.
  • People with less than high school education and those with some PSE recorded job losses of 21,800 and 8,800, respectively.

Chart 4 shows Ontario employment change by highest level of educational attainment, aged 25 and older, change between February 2016 and February 2017, year-to date.

Bar graph shows Ontario employment change by highest level of education, aged 25 and older, change between February 2016 and February 2017, year-to-date, expressed in thousands.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 282-0003, (unadjusted data

Unemployment rate by education level

The unemployment rate for adults 25 years and older with PSE credentials was 4.4% over the first two months of 2017, down from 5.1% a year earlier.

The unemployment rate for adults without PSE credentials was 7.1%, down from 7.7% a year earlier.

Occupational employment increases and decreases

Chart 5 shows Ontario employment growth by occupation, between February 2016 and February 2017

Bar graph shows job gains and losses in Ontario by occupation

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Forces Survey, Table 282-0041, (unadjusted data).

Seven of the ten major occupational groups in Ontario recorded employment growth over the first five months of 2017 compared to a year earlier.

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

These occupations gained the most jobs:

  • Health (45,100)
  • Trades, transport and equipment operators and related (36,300)
  • Sales and service (25,000)

These occupations lost jobs:

  • Business, finance and administration occupations (31,700)
  • Education, law and social, community and government services (17,400)
  • Natural resources, agriculture and related production (5,200).

Long-term unemployment percentage increased

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

Bar graph shows the percentage of all long-term unemployed individuals in Ontario as described below.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 282-0047, (unadjusted data).

  • Over the first two months of 2017, an estimated 98,200 people were unemployed for 27 weeks or more, or in long-term unemployment. This was down from 99,500 in the first two months of 2016 and well above pre-recessionary levels.
  • Long-term unemployed individuals accounted for 20.5% of the total number of unemployed people in the first two months of 2017. This compared with 19.7% a year earlier and 12.6% in the first two months of 2009.

Average time in long-term unemployment

  • The average time in long-term unemployment increased to 20.2 weeks over the first five months of 2017 from 19.8 weeks a year earlier.