September 2026 Labour Market Update: Unemployment Rises as Recruitment Continues
September’s labour market reports show a decline in employment and an increase in unemployment in the Oshawa Census Metropolitan Area (CMA). Across Durham Region, Jobs First Durham recorded an increase in active job postings and the number of employers advertising positions, while new postings decreased slightly.
This update brings together Durham Workforce Authority’s Labour Force Report, Employment by Industry report and Jobs First Durham data. The Statistics Canada figures cover the Oshawa CMA, which includes Oshawa, Whitby and Clarington. Jobs First Durham’s posting data covers Durham Region. The sources measure different aspects of the labour market and are not directly interchangeable.
Employment and unemployment in the Oshawa CMA
Employment in the Oshawa CMA totalled 256,400 in September, down 3,100 from August. The number of unemployed people increased by 800 to 28,000.
The unemployment rate rose from 9.5 per cent in August to 9.8 per cent in September. Both the employment and participation rates declined.
| Indicator | August 2026 | September 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 9.5% | 9.8% | +0.3 percentage points |
| Employment rate | 62.8% | 61.9% | −0.9 percentage points |
| Participation rate | 69.4% | 68.6% | −0.8 percentage points |
The labour force—the combined number of employed and unemployed people—decreased by 2,300 to 284,400. The number of people outside the labour force increased by 3,300 to 130,000. The report does not identify the reasons for these changes.
Changes compared with September 2025
Employment was 3,100 higher than a year earlier, while the population aged 15 and older covered by the report increased by 11,400.
Although more people were employed, employment growth did not keep pace with population growth. The employment rate declined from 62.9 per cent in September 2025 to 61.9 per cent in September 2026.
Over the same period, the number of unemployed people increased by 1,300, and the unemployment rate rose from 9.5 to 9.8 per cent. The participation rate declined from 69.5 to 68.6 per cent.
Employment changes by industry
Wholesale and retail trade remained the Oshawa CMA’s largest industry group, employing 38,500 people. Employment increased by 1,400 from August and by 3,200 compared with September 2025.
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing employed 25,000 people, up 700 from August and 3,100 year over year.
Other annual increases included transportation and warehousing, accommodation and food services, and professional, scientific and technical services. Educational services, manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and public administration recorded annual declines.
| Industry | September 2026 employment | Year-over-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale and retail trade | 38,500 | +3,200 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing | 25,000 | +3,100 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 14,000 | +2,500 |
| Accommodation and food services | 13,900 | +1,900 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 22,300 | +1,800 |
| Educational services | 18,100 | −8,300 |
| Manufacturing | 15,700 | −3,800 |
| Health care and social assistance | 28,200 | −2,100 |
| Public administration | 14,800 | −1,600 |
These figures describe employment among Oshawa CMA residents by industry. They do not measure the number of jobs located within the CMA or the number of positions available.
Job-posting activity across Durham Region
Jobs First Durham recorded 6,208 active job postings in September, up five per cent from August. The number of companies advertising positions increased five per cent to 2,357.
New postings decreased one per cent to 3,966. Active postings include advertisements carried over from an earlier period, so an increase in active postings does not necessarily mean more new opportunities were advertised during the month.
Of September’s postings, 4,318 were classified as full-time, approximately 70 per cent of the total. Separately, 5,137 were classified as permanent, approximately 83 per cent.
Oshawa had the largest municipal posting count at 1,899, followed by Whitby with 1,268, Pickering with 1,013, Ajax with 942 and Clarington with 550. These are municipal job-posting counts, distinct from the Oshawa CMA employment estimates.
Occupations and employers advertising positions
Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers were the most frequently advertised occupation in September, with 358 postings. Other frequently advertised occupations included:
| Occupation | September postings |
|---|---|
| Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations | 217 |
| Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers | 213 |
| Secondary school teachers | 172 |
| Material handlers | 162 |
The Durham District School Board accounted for 196 postings, followed by Aecon Group Inc. with 194, Walmart Canada with 110 and the Durham Catholic District School Board with 89. These counts measure advertisements captured by JFD, rather than completed hires.
Recruitment within industries experiencing employment declines
The reports show why employment estimates and recruitment activity need to be considered separately.
Educational services employment in the Oshawa CMA was down 8,300 compared with September 2025. Across Durham Region, however, JFD recorded 320 September postings associated with elementary and secondary schools.
Similarly, health care and social assistance employment in the Oshawa CMA was down 2,100 year over year, while JFD recorded 198 postings associated with community care facilities for the elderly across Durham Region.
Employers may recruit to replace departing staff, fill temporary positions or expand particular operations while total industry employment declines. The reports do not identify which factors explain these results. Their different geographic coverage also limits direct comparisons.
Skills identified in job postings
Communication appeared in 2,473 postings, management in 2,163 and customer service in 1,829. Driving and sales were also among the most frequently identified skills.
These findings provide information about the requirements employers included in their advertisements. They can inform job-search preparation, career development and discussions about training needs.
Using the reports together
The Labour Force Report describes employment, unemployment and participation in the Oshawa CMA. The Employment by Industry report provides an industry breakdown for employed CMA residents. Jobs First Durham adds information about online recruitment across Durham Region, including occupations, employers and requested skills.
Together, these sources provide context for workforce planning and employment services. They should be considered alongside information from employers and residents when assessing local workforce needs.
Explore DWA’s September Labour Force Survey Report, Employment by Industry Report and Jobs First Durham Labour Market Insights Report reports for more detail.
Sources: DWA’s September 2026 Labour Force Report and Employment by Industry report, using Statistics Canada data; and the September 2026 Jobs First Durham Labour Market Insights Report.
About the data: The Statistics Canada figures used in these reports are not seasonally adjusted, and the Employment by Industry figures are three-month moving averages. Seasonal patterns and sampling variability should be considered when interpreting changes. JFD draws on advertisements from more than 50 publicly accessible websites; postings do not represent completed hires, necessarily correspond to a single vacancy or capture every employment opportunity. The sources also differ in geographic coverage and should not be treated as directly equivalent measures.