Statistics Canada Hiring 32,000 Workers for Nationwide Census

Statistics Canada's offices at Tunny's Pasture in Ottawa are shown on March 8, 2019. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press

The government of Canada has slated 2026 as a census year and is planning to recruit more than 30,000 personnel to conduct the population count that occurs twice each decade.

The census is a national tally by Statistics Canada of the country’s population and housing. It is carried out every five years to furnish essential demographic, social, and economic data for governmental and community planning.

Statistics Canada will also carry out a census of agriculture to collect information about every farm operation in Canada.

“These data inform decisions about child care and education services, health care, public transportation, housing, community planning, and a wide range of programs that support Canadians,” StatCan said in a Jan. 6 press release. Census data is also used to set electoral riding boundaries.

The government plans to hire approximately 32,000 people for census jobs across Canada.

A range of supervisory and non-supervisory positions will be available between March 2026 and July 2026, depending on the position and location, StatCan said.

Pay is $25.87 per hour for enumerators, which is a non-supervisory position, and $31.32 per hour for crew leaders, which is a supervisory role. Employees will also be paid for authorized expenses.

Applicants must have reached the age of majority in their current province or territory of residence to be considered for a job. The age of majority is 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, and 19 in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and Yukon.

Applicants are required to be either a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or to hold a valid work permit, and must reside in Canada with a Canadian home address.

Enumerators are expected to go door-to-door to collect census information while crew leaders will lead and supervise an assistant and a team of enumerators, StatCan said. They are responsible for all activities related to the collection of census questionnaires in their assigned area.

Those interested in applying, can do so via the census jobs webpage.

When Will the Census Occur?

The 2026 Census of Population will take place in May, marking Canada’s 24th national census. All Canadian households are required by law to fill out the questionnaire.

The agriculture census will also be performed in May with collection starting earlier in February for northern and remote areas.

An invitation letter will be sent to most Canadian households in early May 2026, excluding certain northern and remote areas of the country, where collection begins in February 2026, StatCan said. The letter provides information about the census, as well as instructions on how to complete the questionnaire online.

“Completing the census questionnaire online is the best way for Canadians to fulfill their census obligation,” StatCan said. It noted that respondents without reliable internet access can call the Census Help Line to complete their census questionnaire over the phone, or to request a paper questionnaire.

What Does the Census Entail?

Seventy-five percent of Canadians will be sent the basic, or short-form, census, containing questions about their date of birth and age, sex at birth and gender, relationships among household members, and proficiency in official languages alongside other languages spoken, as well as Canadian military experience.

The remaining 25 percent, selected randomly, will need to complete the long-form census. This will include the same questions as the short-form version, but will contain additional categories such as questions related to education, employment, and the labour market, detailed housing specifics, income, and ethnicity and cultural background, along with mobility and daily activities.

The 2026 long-form questionnaire will also feature a new question designed to collect data on the health status of Canadians, as well as a question regarding sexual orientation to bridge data gaps, StatCan said.

All Canadian households are required to complete a population census under the Statistics Act and anyone who refuses to do so can be fined up to $500.