Québec, August 2026 - Job market snapshot

Get a snapshot of key facts about the state of Québec's labour market in the past month.

Against a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding trade negotiations and the threat of higher tariffs, employment in Quebec declined in August (-18,500; -0.4% compared with July), after remaining relatively stable the previous month. The decrease was entirely attributable to full-time employment (-21,200), while part-time employment posted a slight increase (+2,700). Despite this setback, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.6%, as the labour force recorded a marked decline. Employment losses were evenly distributed between men (-9,100) and women (-9,400). Youth aged 15 to 24 (-6,900) and core-aged workers aged 25 to 54 (-24,300) experienced employment declines, while employment among those aged 55 and over increased (+12,700). The labour force fell by 17,700 persons compared with July (-0.4%), reflecting the withdrawal of a large number of individuals from the labour market. On a year-over-year basis, the labour force declined by nearly 75,000 persons. While part of this decrease was attributable to retirements, declines were also observed among youth aged 15 to 24 (-12,500) and individuals aged 25 to 54 (-46,300), mainly as a result of the reduction in the number of temporary residents living in Quebec. Since the beginning of the year, employment in Quebec has been volatile, alternating between periods of significant decline and modest recoveries. Employment posted substantial losses in February (-57,300) and April (-43,300). Moderate gains were then recorded in May (+13,200) and June (+14,300), suggesting some recovery in the labour market. However, following a stable month in July, employment declined again in August (-18,500). Compared with the peak reached in January, Quebec now has 81,000 fewer jobs, nearly half of which (37,400) are full-time positions.

Québec's job market by the numbers

Working population

4,588,700

Down -0.4% since July

Unemployment rate

5.6%

Down 0.0 pts since July

Source: Statistics Canada - Table 14-10-0287-01 - Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle, last 5 months

Industries in focus

Health care and social assistance

Number of jobs decreased -3.0%

July670,100

August649,800

The Health Care and Social Assistance sector recorded the largest employment decline among industries in August, losing 20,300 jobs (-3.0%) compared with July. Employment stood at 649,800 workers, its lowest level since April 2024. After reaching a peak of 680,200 jobs in November 2025, employment has generally been on a downward trend. On a year-over-year basis, the sector employed 19,100 fewer workers than in August 2025 (-2.9%). Earlier this year, Santé Québec reported that the work permits of many temporary foreign workers in the sector could expire without being renewed. Against a backdrop of declining numbers of temporary workers, ongoing recruitment challenges, and efforts to streamline the health care system, these factors may have contributed to the observed decrease in employment.

Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas

Number of jobs decreased -6.7%

July47,700

August44,500

In August, the Forestry, Fishing, Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction sector lost 3,200 jobs (-6.7%) compared with the previous month, bringing employment down to 44,500 workers. After experiencing strong growth in the fall of 2025, followed by a period of relative stability, the sector recorded four consecutive monthly declines. However, this series of decreases has not erased the gains made over the past year, as employment remained 3,700 jobs (+9.1%) above its level in August 2025. The persistent challenges facing the forestry industry, including weak U.S. demand for lumber, countervailing duties imposed by the United States, and several mill closures or production curtailments, have contributed to lower forest harvesting activity. In the mining industry, declining mineral exports and streamlining initiatives undertaken by some companies may also have contributed to employment losses.

Wholesale and retail trade

Number of jobs decreased -1.3%

July651,900

August643,600

Employment in the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector declined by 8,300 workers (-1.3%) in August, bringing total employment to 643,600. After reaching a peak of 677,500 jobs in October 2025, the sector has lost nearly 34,000 jobs. Despite occasional rebounds, employment has generally trended downward since late 2025. On a year-over-year basis, employment was down by 27,000 positions (-4.0%). The decline in employment in the wholesale and retail trade sector can be attributed to several factors, including slower economic growth, limited employment prospects, and rising housing-related expenses, which have reduced consumers’ willingness to spend. Moreover, in a context of high household debt and economic uncertainty, many households have tended to curb discretionary spending and postpone certain non-essential purchases. The sector is also facing increasing competition from e-commerce, which continues to gain market share at the expense of some traditional retailers. These pressures have resulted in the announcement of several store closures, including both specialty shops and large-format retail outlets.

Source: Statistics Canada - Table 14-10-0355-02 - Employment by industry, monthly, seasonally adjusted (x 1,000)

Unemployment rate by region

Abitibi-Témiscamingue
2.9%
Bas-Saint-Laurent
5.3%
Capitale-Nationale
4.6%
Centre-du-Québec
2.8%
Chaudière-Appalaches
1.9%
Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec
*
Estrie
3.0%
Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
7.5%
Lanaudière
3.2%
Laurentides
5.7%
Laval
6.7%
Mauricie
5.7%
Montréal
8.8%
Montérégie
4.7%
Outaouais
6.3%
Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
3.4%

The unemployment rate was lowest in Chaudière-Appalaches and highest in Montréal.

* suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act

Source: Labour Market Indicators: By province, territory and economic region, unadjusted for seasonality

A closer look at some regions

Mauricie

132,000 people employed

Down -11.5% since August 2025

Mauricie recorded the largest percentage decline in employment among Quebec’s regions over the past year. Between August 2025 and August 2026, employment fell by 17,100 jobs (-11.5%). The labour force also declined sharply, down 17,800 persons (-11.3%), reflecting both retirements and the withdrawal of discouraged job seekers from the labour market. This contraction in the labour market resulted in a 7.3 percentage point decline in the participation rate, which stood at 57.2%. The employment rate also fell significantly, decreasing by 7.1 percentage points to 53.9%. Despite the decline in the labour force, the unemployment rate edged up by 0.3 percentage points over the year to reach 5.7%. Mauricie’s economy, which is largely driven by its industrial sector, remains vulnerable to fluctuations in U.S. demand and uncertainty surrounding cross-border trade. More than 30% of goods manufactured in the region are destined for the United States. This exposure particularly affects the wood, paper, and fabricated metal product industries, where a significant share of activity depends on U.S. markets. Over the past year, a growing number of layoffs, production shutdowns, and business closures have highlighted the challenges faced by many employers and have weakened regional manufacturing activity. These pressures have been compounded by the slowdown of certain industrial projects and the decline in the labour force associated with retirements. What else is happening in this region?

Estrie

185,400 people employed

Up 4.2% since August 2025

Estrie’s labour market delivered a strong performance between August 2025 and August 2026. Employment increased by 7,400 (+4.2%) to reach 185,400 workers. Over the same period, the labour force grew by 3,600 (+1.9%). As job creation outpaced labour force growth, the unemployment rate declined by 2.1 percentage points to 3.0%, the largest decrease among Quebec’s regions. The employment rate also rose sharply, up 2.3 percentage points year over year to 60.3%. Employment growth in Estrie has been supported in part by strong residential construction activity, particularly in the Sherbrooke census metropolitan area. Unlike Montréal and the Capitale-Nationale region, Estrie is not experiencing a population decline, which continues to support labour demand and economic activity. In addition, the region’s manufacturing firms have benefited from major investments totalling several billion dollars aimed at modernizing facilities and strengthening export capacity. The vitality of the tourism industry has also contributed to increased labour demand. Finally, the growth of the Sherbrooke-Bromont technology hub has likely contributed to the strong performance of the regional labour market. What else is happening in this region?

Capitale-Nationale

426,200 people employed

Down -5.3% since August 2025

Capitale-Nationale recorded the largest employment loss in absolute terms among Quebec’s regions over the past year, with employment declining by 23,900 jobs (-5.3%) between August 2025 and August 2026. This decrease was accompanied by a reduction of 22,500 persons in the labour force (-4.8%). The employment rate fell by 3.3 percentage points to 62.6%. Although its economy has become considerably more diversified over the years through the development of high value-added industries, Capitale-Nationale remains strongly influenced by the presence of the public administration sector because of its role as the decision-making centre of the Quebec government. As a result, recent measures aimed at reducing the size of the public service workforce, including hiring and recruitment freezes, have had a greater impact in the region than elsewhere in Quebec. According to the Government of Quebec, the hiring and recruitment freeze, combined with retirements and the elimination of temporary and casual positions, has already resulted in a reduction of 5,061 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions within the provincial public service. In addition, the decline in the region’s total population has contributed to moderating growth in labour demand and represents another factor that may be limiting employment growth. What else is happening in this region?

Last data refresh: 2026-09-04

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