Canadian economy adds 88,000 jobs in May

07-Jun-2026

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Canada's economy added 88,000 jobs in May, according to Statistic Canada data out on June 5, defying economists' predictions and partially offsetting drops in employment so far this year.

Canada had lost 112,000 net jobs in the first four months of 2026, but May's big addition helped erase almost 80 per cent of the job losses posted since the year began.

It's the first significant employment gain since November, according to Statistics Canada.

The unemployment rate fell to 6.6 per cent in May too, from 6.9 per cent a month before.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast the unemployment rate to hold at the six-month-high level reached in April at 6.9 per cent and had predicted net additions of 10,000 ⁠jobs in May.