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US vs Canada Unemployment
Canada moved above United States in 2009. In 1991 United States stood at roughly 66% of Canada’s Unemployment; today the figure is about 61%, and the pair was closest in 2013 (103%).
| Year | United States | Canada | Canada as % of US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 10.32% | 6.8% | 66% |
| 1970 | 10.32% | 6.8% | 66% |
| 1980 | 10.32% | 6.8% | 66% |
| 1990 | 10.32% | 6.8% | 66% |
| 2000 | 6.83% | 3.99% | 58% |
| 2010 | 8.18% | 9.63% | 118% |
| 2020 | 9.66% | 8.06% | 83% |
| 2025 | 6.91% | 4.2% | 61% |
Frequently asked questions
When did Canada move above United States in Unemployment?
In 2009. Canada’s published Unemployment rose above United States’s that year.
How do United States and Canada compare today?
Canada is ahead: 6.91% against 4.2% — the trailing economy stands at about 61% of the leader.
Are these Unemployment figures nominal or adjusted?
The series is a share expressed in % of total labor force, exactly as the World Bank publishes it; movements are percentage points, not percent.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: