Ontario now has more than 800,000 workers without a job

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP Shadow Minister for Finance & Shadow Minister for Treasury Board Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale) and Shadow Minister for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Catherine Fife (Waterloo) have made the following statement on today’s jobs numbers:

“Ontario lost 26,000 jobs last month which is the biggest drop in the country. Since February, 66,000 jobs have disappeared. That means more than 800,000 Ontarians are out of work today. Families are paying the price while this government continues to stall,” said Fife.

“We already know that communities across Ontario are being hit hard,” said Bell. “Unemployment in Windsor, Oshawa, and Toronto is now among the highest in Canada. These are regions that have long powered our economy, and the people living there deserve better than being left behind.”

“Behind every one of these numbers is a parent worried about paying the bills, a young person questioning their future, or a worker wondering if another opportunity will come along,” said Fife. “Ontario needs a real jobs plan that builds stable, good-paying work and gives families the security and hope they deserve. That means investing in local industries, implementing a Buy Ontario Plan, and putting people at the heart of economic growth.”

BACKGROUND:

• Ontario lost 26,000 jobs last month, the sharpest decline of any province.
• Employment has fallen by 66,000 since February 2025.
• There are now over 800,000 Ontarians unemployed.
• Unemployment in Windsor (11.1%), Oshawa (9.0%), and Toronto (8.9%) is among the highest in Canada.
• Youth unemployment is 16.5%, more than double the provincial average.
• Education lost nearly 18,000 jobs, professional and technical services down 13,600, and manufacturing remains down 18,000 year over year despite a small monthly gain.