The NL Public Record
Work and income
The labour force, what people earn, who is in poverty, and who is on income support. Statistics Canada surveys compiled by the Newfoundland and Labrador Statistics Agency, plus provincial income support caseloads.
OverviewLabour forceEarningsIncomeIncome support and hardship
10.1%
unemployment rate, 2025
244,800
employed
57.8%
participation rate
NL and Canada, 1976 to 2025
The province has always been above the national rate. The gap was 13 points in the mid-nineties; in 2025 it is 3.3 points.
4.17.611.014.517.921.41980199020002010202010.1Newfoundland and LabradorCanada

By gender

12.2%
men, 2025
7.8%
women, 2025

Women's unemployment has been below men's for every year since 2001. In 2025 the gap is 4.4 percentage points.

Unemployment rate by gender, 1976 to 2025
6.49.612.815.919.122.31980199020002010202012.2MenWomen

Youth (15 to 24)

16.4%
youth unemployment, 2025
57,700
youth population

The youth population fell from 116,100 in 1976 to 53,900 in 2021 before turning around. Their unemployment peaked at 32.4% in 1984.

Youth vs all-ages unemployment, 1976 to 2025
8.113.318.523.829.034.21980199020002010202016.4Youth (15–24)All ages
Youth population (15 to 24), 1976 to 2025
The number of 15-to-24-year-olds in the province.
48.963.477.892.2106.6121.11980199020002010202057.7

By region

Unemployment rate by economic region, 2011 to 2025. The Avalon runs well below the rest of the province.

Avalon

8.5%
unemployment, 2025

South Coast / Central

14.6%
unemployment, 2025

West / N. Pen. / Lab.

10.1%
unemployment, 2025
Unemployment by economic region, 2011 to 2025
6.39.713.116.419.823.22015202020258.5AvalonSouth Coast / CentralWest / N. Pen. / Lab.

By city

Unemployment rate for St. John's (Census Metropolitan Area) and Corner Brook (Census Agglomeration).

St. John's and Corner Brook unemployment
4.98.111.214.417.520.72015202020257.2St. John's (CMA)Corner Brook (CA)

Where NL sits, 2025

Unemployment rate by province, annual average 2025. NL remains the highest in the country.

ProvinceRate
Newfoundland and Labrador10.1%
Prince Edward Island8.0%
Ontario7.7%
Alberta7.2%
New Brunswick7.1%
Nova Scotia6.6%
British Columbia6.2%
Manitoba5.9%
Quebec5.6%
Saskatchewan5.2%

Ask a question

If there is something in this data you want to understand, or a number you cannot find, ask and we will try to answer it on the page.