Unemployment Rate by Age

• For all age groups a person is only considered unemployed if they are actively seeking a job, so full-time students and retired people are not included in the unemployment rate.
• The youth unemployment rate has always been significantly higher than the rate of older age groups.
• The youth unemployment rate has increased significantly under COVID-19 conditions, from a rate of 14.4% in 2019 to 27.7% in 2020. While it has since dropped, the youth unemployment rate continues to be significantly higher than all other age groups.
  

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.