Unemployment Rate by Gender

• The unemployment rate tends to differ for men and women. Since men are disproportionately employed in resource and construction sectors, the unemployment rate for men tends to be more closely tied to economic ups and downs compared to the unemployment rate for women.
• The gender gap in unemployment rates fluctuates from year to year, for example, changing from a 0.3 percentage point difference in 2014, to a 2.6 percentage point difference in 2016, then back down to a 1.1 percentage point difference in 2017.

Employment-related measures indicate the strength of an economy and, accordingly, the population’s ability to sustain itself. Higher unemployment rates lead to more people needing income support to maintain a minimal standard of living and challenge governments and businesses to find opportunities to stimulate job growth. Lower unemployment rates also have their challenges—for instance, employed individuals may struggle to balance their work and family roles, and may face difficulties to secure adequate child care or obtain affordable housing. 

The unemployment rates experienced by Indigenous peoples and youth are significantly higher at all times, but especially during economic downturns. While unemployment rates for women have typically been lower than those for men, especially in recent years, women’s earnings from employment continue to be significantly lower than those of men.