Quick facts

In June 2020:

  • There were 12.3 million people in Ontario aged 15 years or older
    • 7.7 million (63%) were in the labour force, including those who had worked, were unemployed or did not work at their job because of ongoing business closures. The labour force increased by 4.3% (786,300) compared to May
    • 6.8 million (55%) were employed, up 5.9% (377,900 jobs) from May
  • Ontario's unemployment rate decreased to 12.2% in June from 13.6% in May and 943,400 people were unemployed, down 6.0% (60,000) from May
Important note:

This report is based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS), a household survey carried out by Statistics Canada. June’s Labour Force Survey results cover the reference week of June 14 to 20.

Stage 2 of the Ontario government’s plan for reopening the economy came into effect on June 12 on a regional basis, with Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex moving to Stage 2 after the LFS reference week. (See Stage 2 openings)

Ontario’s mandatory closure of non-essential businesses and other measures aimed at addressing the impact of COVID-19 took effect on March 24.

Employment increased in June

Employment increased in Ontario by 377,900 (5.9%) to 6,776,500 in June following a decline of 64,500 in May. This was the first monthly increase in employment since the COVID-19 economic downturn began.

Over the February-May period, Ontario employment declined by almost 1.2 million, the largest three-month employment decline on record. With this increase, Ontario employment in June was 778,600 (10.3%) lower than the February level.

All sectors recorded job gains in June except two. Wholesale and retail trade (107,400) led employment gains in June, followed by manufacturing (66,200), accommodation and food services (41,600) and construction (34,100).

Professional, scientific and technical services (−5,700) and forestry, fishing, mining, oil, quarry and gas (−1,000) were the only sectors that lost employment.

Over half (57.0%) of the job losses over the February-May period were concentrated in four sectors – wholesale and retail trade, accommodation and food services, manufacturing, health care and social assistance and construction. These sectors account for 65% of the jobs gained in June.

The total number of hours worked (main job) in Ontario in June increased by about 13.7% compared to May but are still down by 11.0% compared to February (data are not seasonally adjusted)

Chart 1 shows employment in Ontario from January 2015 to June 2020.

Line graph for chart 1 shows employment in Ontario decreasing from 6,878,700 in January 2015 to 6,776,500 in June 2020.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 14-10-0287-01, (seasonally adjusted data).

Download data, chart 1

Full-time vs. part-time

Full-time jobs increased by 219,500 and part-time jobs increased by 158,300.

Employment increase by age

Youth employment (those aged 15 to 24) increased by 78,700 in June, after decreasing by 30,100 jobs in May. Youth have been disproportionally impacted by job losses since February.

Employment for people aged 25 to 54 increased by 248,400 in June, compared to May. Employment for those aged 55 and older increased by 50,800 jobs.

Employment in Canada rose by 952,900 (5.8%) in June. Employment in Canada was still 1,762,000 below its February 2020 level and now totals 17,427,400.

Unemployment rate decreased to 12.2%

Chart 2 shows unemployment rates, Ontario and Canada, January 2015 to June 2020.

Line graph for Chart 2.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 14-10-0287-01, (seasonally adjusted data).

Download data, chart 2

Ontario’s unemployment rate in June was 12.2%, down from 13.6% in May. May’s unemployment rate was the highest rate on record. The rate has more than doubled from 5.5% in February.

Canada’s unemployment rate fell to 12.3% in June from 13.7% in May. May’s unemployment rate was at the highest level since the current time series began in 1976. In February, Canada’s unemployment rate was 5.6%.

Unemployment rate by age

For individuals aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate remained at 30.0% in June compared to May and is the highest unemployment rate on record.

The unemployment rate for individuals aged 25 to 54 decreased to 9.8% in June from 11.4% in May and to 8.3% from 10.7% for those aged 55 and older.

Lowest and highest unemployment rates

Chart 3 shows Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with highest and lowest unemployment rates in Canada, June 2020.

Bar graph for chart 3.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 14-10-0294-01, (seasonally adjusted data three-month moving average to reduce volatility caused by small sample size).

Download data, chart 3

Windsor recorded the highest unemployment rate in Ontario in June (15.2%), while Edmonton, Alberta had the highest unemployment rate in Canada, at 15.7%.

Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario part, recorded the lowest unemployment rate in Ontario in June (9.0%), while Abbotsford-Mission, British Columbia recorded the lowest unemployment rate in Canada (8.8%).

Year-over-year comparisons

Employment increase and decrease by education level

Over the first six months of 2020, employment in Ontario declined by 256,400 net jobs for adults 25 years and older compared to the first six months of 2019.

Chart 4 shows Ontario employment change by highest level of education attained, aged 25 and older, June 2019 year-to-date to June 2020 year-to-date.

Bar graph for chart 4

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 14-10-0019-01, unadjusted data

Download data, chart 4

Individuals with a postsecondary certificate or diploma and those with high school education led job losses with 174,900 and 91,000, respectively.

People with less than high school education recorded job losses of 33,100.

Adults with a university degree recorded employment gains of 35,400 net new jobs, while those with some postsecondary education gained 7,300 jobs.

Unemployment rate by education level

The unemployment rate for adults aged 25 and older with postsecondary education credentials was 6.9% in the first six months of 2020, up from 4.1% a year earlier.

The unemployment rate for adults without postsecondary education credentials was 9.6%, up from 6.3% compared to a year ago.

Employment increase and decrease by occupation

Chart 5 shows Ontario employment change by occupation, June 2019 year-to-date to June 2020 year-to-date.

Bar graph for chart 5

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 14-10-0297-01, unadjusted data.

Download data, chart 5

Seven of the ten major occupational groups in Ontario had employment losses in the first six months of 2020 compared to a year ago.

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

These occupations lost the most jobs:

  • sales and service (230,700)
  • trades, transport and equipment operators (71,000)
  • art, culture, recreation, and sport (51,700)

These occupations gained jobs:

  • natural and applied sciences and related (27,100)
  • manufacturing and utilities (26,500)

Download data

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey

June 2020 Labour Market Report:

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