Quick facts

In November 2021:

  • There were 12.4 million people in Ontario aged 15 years or older
    • 8.1 million (65.5%) were in the labour force. The labour force increased in November (19,300 or 0.2%) compared to October.
    • 7.6 million (61.3%) were employed, up by 68,100 (0.9%) from October.
  • Ontario's unemployment rate decreased to 6.4% in November from 7.0% in October and 519,100 people were unemployed, down 8.6% (-48,800) from October.

Important note:

This report is based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS), a household survey carried out by Statistics Canada. November’s LFS results cover labour market conditions during the week of November 7 to 13.

On September 25, capacity limits were increased in many indoor venues (e.g., movie theatres and concert venues) where proof of vaccination is required, as well as in certain outdoor event venues.

Proof-of-vaccination initiatives are in effect in Ontario and capacity limits are lifted in many venues where proof of vaccination is now mandatory.

Employment increased in November

Employment in Ontario increased for the sixth consecutive month in November (68,100 or 0.9%), following an increase of 37,000 (0.5%) in October.

In November, employment in Ontario was 113,700 (1.5%) above its pre-COVID-19 February 2020 level.

Chart 1 shows employment in Ontario from January 2005 to November 2021.

Line graph for chart 1 shows employment in Ontario from January 2005 to November 2021.

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 accounted for virtually all of the employment increase in November (67,200 or 3.2%). Part-time employment was unchanged (+800).

Employment change by sex and age

November’s employment increase was 23,600 (0.6%) for men and 44,500 (1.2%) for women. Employment among men was 1.4% (55,700) above its pre-COVID February 2020 level and employment among women was 1.6% (58,000) above.

Youth (ages 15-24) employment fell by 11,600 (-1.1%) in November, following an increase of 18,100 (1.8%) in October. Employment for people aged 25 to 54 increased by 63,800 (1.3%) in November, following an increase of 18,100 (0.4%) in October. Employment for those aged 55 and older increased by 15,900 (1.0%) following no change in October.

In November, youth employment was below (-0.3% or -2,600) its pre-COVID February 2020 level. Employment among those aged 25-54 was above its pre-COVID February 2020 level by 2.7% (130,400), while employment among those aged 55 and over was 0.8% (-14,100) below.

Employment in Canada increased by 157,300 (0.8%) in November after increasing by 31,200 (0.2%) in October.

Employment change by industry

The government’s restrictions on the types of businesses that were deemed essential and other measures aimed at addressing the impact of COVID-19 should be considered in the context of employment change by sector.

Healthcare and social assistance (23,100 or 2.5%), wholesale and retail trade (20,000 or 1.8%) and construction (13,300 or 2.5%) led job gains in November. Other services (-20,300 or -7.4%), accommodation and food services (-10,200 or -2.5%) and educational services (-3,300 or -0.6%) had the most net employment losses.

In November, ten of the 16 major industry groups had employment levels that were at or above pre-COVID February 2020 levels, led by professional, scientific and technical services (97,700 or 14.6%), information, culture and recreation (46,500 or 15.4%) and wholesale and retail trade (41,300 or 3.8%).

Employment in accommodation and food services (-50,300 or -11.4%) was furthest below its pre-COVID February 2020 level, followed by other services (-49,700 or -16.3%) and business, building and other services (-32,800 or -10.1%).

Chart 2 shows industries by employment change in Ontario, February 2020 to November 2021.

Bar graph for chart 2.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 14-10-0355-02, (seasonally adjusted data).

Download data, chart 2

Unemployment rate decreased to 6.4 %

Chart 3 shows unemployment rates, Ontario and Canada, January 2005 to November 2021.

Line graph for Chart 3.

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

Download data, chart 3

Ontario’s unemployment rate in November was 6.4%, down from 7.0% in October and was at its lowest rate since February 2020 (5.5%).

Canada’s unemployment rate fell to 6.0% in November from 6.7% in October. Canada’s unemployment rate in February 2020 was 5.7%.

Unemployment rate by sex and age

The unemployment rate for women was 6.2% in November, down from 7.0% in October, while the rate for men fell to 6.6% from 7.0% during the same period.

In Ontario, the unemployment rate among population groups designated as visible minorities was estimated at 7.9% in November in comparison to a 4.5% rate for non-visible minorities and those that did not identify as Indigenous (data are for the population aged 15 to 69 and are not adjusted for seasonality).

For individuals aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate increased to 11.4% in November from 9.9% in October. The youth unemployment rate reached a record high of 30.0% in May 2020.

The unemployment rate for individuals aged 25 to 54 was 5.1% in November, down from 6.3% in October, while the rate for those aged 55 and older decreased to 6.9% from 7.2%.

Long-term unemployment

In November, an average of 129,500 Ontarians or 24.9% of all unemployed people were unemployed for 27 weeks or longer (long-term unemployed). This was down from 157,100 or 27.7% in October and much higher than the pre-COVID February 2020 level of 68,800.

The average time in unemployment was 22.8 weeks in November 2021 compared to 15.9 weeks in February 2020.

Chart 4 shows the number of people unemployed for 27 week or more in Ontario, January 2005 to October 2021.

Line graph for Chart 4.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 14-10-0342-01, (seasonally adjusted data).

Download data, chart 4

Employment and unemployment in urban centres

Employment change in urban centres

Chart 5 shows employment change for Ontario Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) from October 2021 to November 2021.

Bar graph for chart 5.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 14-10-0380-01, (seasonally adjusted data three-month moving average to reduce volatility caused by small sample size).

Download data, chart 5

Toronto (32,900 or 0.9%) led employment gains among the sixteen Ontario Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) between October and November, followed by Oshawa (7,600 or 3.5%) and Windsor (7,100 or 4.2%). The employment level fell in Ottawa-Gatineau (Ontario part) (-3,400 or -0.6%), Hamilton (-2,900 or -0.7%) and St. Catharines-Niagara (-2,100 or -1.0%).

In November, employment in most of the 16 Ontario CMAs was close to or above pre-COVID February 2020 levels, led by Toronto (76,100 or 2.2%), London (17,400 or 6.4%), Oshawa (12,700 or 6.0%) and Guelph (8,200 or 9.5%).

Ottawa-Gatineau (-16,000 or -2.7%), Belleville (-9,500 or -16.3%), Barrie (-6,400 or -5.1%) and Hamilton (-6,300 or -1.5%) had employment levels that were notably below pre-COVID February 2020 levels.

Lowest and highest unemployment rates in urban centres

Chart 6 shows Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with highest and lowest unemployment rates in Canada, November 2021.

Bar graph for chart 6.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, Table 14-10-0380-02, (seasonally adjusted data three-month moving average to reduce volatility caused by small sample size).

Download data, chart 6

Peterborough recorded the second highest unemployment rate in Canada in November (8.4%) after Saint John, New Brunswick (8.5%).

Guelph recorded the lowest unemployment rate in Ontario in November (4.5%), while Quebec City recorded the lowest unemployment rate in Canada (2.8%).

Download data

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey

July 2021 Labour Market Report:

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