Canada Just Lost 68,000 Jobs. Read the Report Before You Blame Washington
Canada's economy shed 68,000 jobs in September, and its 2026 job gains are gone. The biggest losses came in government payrolls, not tariff-hit factories. In our view, the lesson for Ottawa is to get back to the table.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 10, 2026 | 6-min read Canada got a jolt on Friday. Statistics Canada reported that the country lost 68,000 jobs in September and that its unemployment rate rose to 6.5% [1]. It was the second straight monthly decline, and it wiped out every net job Canada had gained so far this year [1][2]. Expect plenty of commentators north of the border to point the finger at Washington. In our view, they should read the report first, because the numbers tell a more complicated story. Key Takeaways Canada lost 68,000 jobs in September, after losing 42,000 in August. The unemployment rate rose to 6.5% [1]. The number of public-sector employees fell by 70,000, the fourth straight monthly decline. The number of private-sector employees was little changed [1]. Canada has lost a net 41,200 jobs so far in 2026, compared with a gain of 211,300 in the same period of 2025, Reuters reports [2]. Here is why Americans should care. Canada is one of our largest trading partners and closest neighbors. Talks between Ottawa and Washington have been suspended since August, The Globe and Mail reports, and the trade fight has intensified [5]. When Canada's economy stumbles, it