Employment in Newfoundland and Labrador was 251,400 persons in September 2026, an increase of 5,600 persons, or 2.3%, compared with September 2025. Actual hours worked increased by 2.1% and the level of unemployment decreased by 2,100 persons, or 9.1%. The unemployment rate decreased by 0.9 percentage points to 7.7% in September 2026 compared with September 2025, remaining low by historical standards.

The labour force in Newfoundland and Labrador was 272,400 in September 2026. This represented an increase of 3,500 persons, or 1.3%, compared with September 2025 and was associated with an increase in both the source population and the participation rate. The source population increased by 3,800 persons, or 0.8%, and the participation rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 57.3%.

There was an increase in both full-time employment (+3,700 persons, or +1.7%) and part-time employment (+1,800 persons, or +5.3%) in September 2026 compared with September 2025. By gender, employment increased by 4,000 persons (or +3.2%) for the ‘Men+’ category and rose by 1,600 persons (or +1.3%) for the ‘Women+’ category.

By industry, employment in the goods-producing sector increased by 3,800 persons (+8.1%) in September 2026 compared with September 2025, and employment in the services-producing sector increased by 1,800 persons (+0.9%). Within the goods-producing sector, the largest employment increases were recorded in ‘Construction’ (+1,700 persons) and ‘Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas’ (+1,200 persons). There were no employment declines among the other major industries within the goods-producing sector. Within the services-producing sector, the largest employment increases were in ‘Public administration’ (+1,900 persons), ‘Health care and social assistance’ (+1,600 persons), and ‘Accommodation and food services’ (+1,000 persons). The largest employment declines were recorded in ‘Business, building and other support services’ (-1,700 persons), and ‘Information, culture and recreation’ (-1,000 persons).

Employment increased in eight provinces in September 2026 compared with September 2025, with gains ranging from 0.3% in New Brunswick to 3.3% in Prince Edward Island. Employment declined in Québec (-2.3%) and British Columbia (-0.6%) in September 2026, compared with September 2025.

On a year-to-date basis, employment in the province averaged 246,100 in the January to September 2026 period, an increase of 700 persons, or 0.3%, compared with the same period in 2025. There was an increase in year-to-date employment in eight provinces over the same period, with growth ranging from 0.3% in Newfoundland and Labrador to 3.4% in Alberta. Nationally, year-to-date employment increased by 0.5%. The unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador averaged 9.3% on a year-to-date basis, a decrease of 1.0 percentage points compared with the January to September 2025 period.

Glossary terms:
Labour Force | Employed | Unemployed | Unemployment Rate | Participation Rate | Employment Rate

Statistical Reference: Statistics used in this analysis were current at the time of writing. For the latest in employment statistics visit the Newfoundland & Labrador Statistics Agency site and the release dates on the Statistics Canada site.