What the Data Shows
Employment changes are compared across Canada’s 41 combined census metropolitan areas from May to June 2026. The 15 largest absolute shifts are measured in thousand persons from seasonally adjusted Labour Force Survey employment totals for both months. Montréal recorded the largest increase at +23.6 thousand persons. Québec recorded the largest decrease at -10.8 thousand persons.
Data table
Unit: thousand persons · Period: May–June 2026
| Rank | Entry | Value | Period |
|---|
| 1 | Montréal | +23.6 | May–June 2026 |
| 2 | Québec | −10.8 | May–June 2026 |
| 3 | Toronto | +9.5 | May–June 2026 |
| 4 | Vancouver | +8.0 | May–June 2026 |
| 5 | Hamilton | +4.6 | May–June 2026 |
| 6 | Oshawa | +4.0 | May–June 2026 |
| 7 | St. Catharines–Niagara | +3.3 | May–June 2026 |
| 8 | Guelph | +3.1 | May–June 2026 |
| 9 | Victoria | −2.8 | May–June 2026 |
| 10 | Kelowna | +2.3 | May–June 2026 |
| 11 | Nanaimo | +1.8 | May–June 2026 |
| 12 | Saskatoon | −1.7 | May–June 2026 |
| 13 | Barrie | −1.5 | May–June 2026 |
| 14 | Abbotsford–Mission | −1.3 | May–June 2026 |
| 15 | Winnipeg | +1.3 | May–June 2026 |
Sources
Data notes & caveats
Values are seasonally adjusted three-month moving averages in thousand persons. The combined Ottawa–Gatineau area is used instead of its provincial components. Bar lengths show absolute movement; signed labels indicate increases and decreases.
Methodology
For each combined census metropolitan area, the monthly change equals the June value minus the May value. The ranking retains the 15 largest movements by absolute size from all 41 combined metro areas.
Source consistency notes
Both endpoints use the same Statistics Canada release, common unit and metropolitan employment definition.
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