Viewpoints
Opinion

Don’t Celebrate Canada’s Falling Unemployment Rate Just Yet

The January unemployment rate fell because the workforce is shrinking, not because it’s easier to find work.
Don’t Celebrate Canada’s Falling Unemployment Rate Just Yet
Workers are shown at a construction site for a new housing development in Pickering, Ont., on May 15, 2023. The Canadian Press/Chris Young
Roslyn Kunin
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Commentary

Canada’s falling unemployment rate is being read as good news. It isn’t. The decline reflects fewer Canadians working because fewer people are looking for work and fewer people are here to work at all.

Roslyn Kunin
Roslyn Kunin
Author
Dr. Roslyn Kunin is a respected Canadian economist known for her extensive work in economic forecasting, public policy, and labour market analysis. She has held various prominent roles, including serving as the regional director for the federal government’s Department of Employment and Immigration in British Columbia and Yukon and as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Kunin is also recognized for her contributions to economic development, particularly in Western Canada.