Canada's labour market showed signs of strain in February 2026, with employment falling by 84,000 and the unemployment rate rising to 6.7%. Young workers and men aged 25 to 54 bore the brunt of the losses, while wholesale and retail trade sectors saw the steepest declines. Quebec experienced the largest provincial drop, with 57,000 fewer jobs. Despite the setbacks, average hourly wages among employees rose 3.9% year-over-year to $37.56. The employment rate fell to 60.6%, hovering near its recent low from August 2025.