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Economy·Canada

Will Canada have the highest unemployment rate since 2016 this year?

icon for Will Canada have the highest unemployment rate since 2016 this year?
Economy·Canada

Will Canada have the highest unemployment rate since 2016 this year?

8% chance
Polymarket
NEW
8% chance
Polymarket
NEW
This market will resolve to "Yes" if the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (15 years and over, total) reported by Statistics Canada in the Labour Force Survey for any month of 2026 is higher than that of any other month since January 2017 (inclusive). Otherwise, this market will resolve to "No". The resolution source for this market is the Labor Force Survey, published by Statistics Canada every month at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dai-quo/cal1-eng.htm. Any revisions to the data after the first qualifying release will not count toward this market's resolution; only the initial figure released for each month will qualify. This market will resolve immediately upon a qualifying release of data. If no data for the specified month is released by the date the next month's data is scheduled to be released, this market will resolve based on data from the last available month.Canada’s unemployment rate has stabilized near 6.4% as of July 2026, well below the 7.1% peak recorded in late 2025 and far from the 14.2% COVID-era high in 2020 that remains the post-2016 benchmark. Recent Labor Force Survey data show employment gains, a modest rise in participation, and declining youth joblessness, consistent with Bank of Canada communications and forecasts projecting the annual rate around 6.5–6.6% for 2026. These labor-market dynamics, supported by gradual monetary-policy easing and contained inflation, underpin the market-implied 91.9% probability that 2026 will not produce the highest rate since 2016. While a sharp downturn triggered by escalated tariffs or a deeper global slowdown could push the rate higher, such moves would still need to exceed the 2020 level—an outcome viewed as remote given current slack and forward indicators.

This market will resolve to "Yes" if the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (15 years and over, total) reported by Statistics Canada in the Labour Force Survey for any month of 2026 is higher than that of any other month since January 2017 (inclusive). Otherwise, this market will resolve to "No".

The resolution source for this market is the Labor Force Survey, published by Statistics Canada every month at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dai-quo/cal1-eng.htm.

Any revisions to the data after the first qualifying release will not count toward this market's resolution; only the initial figure released for each month will qualify. This market will resolve immediately upon a qualifying release of data.

If no data for the specified month is released by the date the next month's data is scheduled to be released, this market will resolve based on data from the last available month.
Volume
$9,375
End Date
Feb 15, 2027
Market Opened
Jan 29, 2026, 4:17 PM ET

Resolver

0x65070BE91...
This market will resolve to "Yes" if the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (15 years and over, total) reported by Statistics Canada in the Labour Force Survey for any month of 2026 is higher than that of any other month since January 2017 (inclusive). Otherwise, this market will resolve to "No". The resolution source for this market is the Labor Force Survey, published by Statistics Canada every month at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dai-quo/cal1-eng.htm. Any revisions to the data after the first qualifying release will not count toward this market's resolution; only the initial figure released for each month will qualify. This market will resolve immediately upon a qualifying release of data. If no data for the specified month is released by the date the next month's data is scheduled to be released, this market will resolve based on data from the last available month.
This market will resolve to "Yes" if the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (15 years and over, total) reported by Statistics Canada in the Labour Force Survey for any month of 2026 is higher than that of any other month since January 2017 (inclusive). Otherwise, this market will resolve to "No". The resolution source for this market is the Labor Force Survey, published by Statistics Canada every month at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dai-quo/cal1-eng.htm. Any revisions to the data after the first qualifying release will not count toward this market's resolution; only the initial figure released for each month will qualify. This market will resolve immediately upon a qualifying release of data. If no data for the specified month is released by the date the next month's data is scheduled to be released, this market will resolve based on data from the last available month.Canada’s unemployment rate has stabilized near 6.4% as of July 2026, well below the 7.1% peak recorded in late 2025 and far from the 14.2% COVID-era high in 2020 that remains the post-2016 benchmark. Recent Labor Force Survey data show employment gains, a modest rise in participation, and declining youth joblessness, consistent with Bank of Canada communications and forecasts projecting the annual rate around 6.5–6.6% for 2026. These labor-market dynamics, supported by gradual monetary-policy easing and contained inflation, underpin the market-implied 91.9% probability that 2026 will not produce the highest rate since 2016. While a sharp downturn triggered by escalated tariffs or a deeper global slowdown could push the rate higher, such moves would still need to exceed the 2020 level—an outcome viewed as remote given current slack and forward indicators.

This market will resolve to "Yes" if the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (15 years and over, total) reported by Statistics Canada in the Labour Force Survey for any month of 2026 is higher than that of any other month since January 2017 (inclusive). Otherwise, this market will resolve to "No".

The resolution source for this market is the Labor Force Survey, published by Statistics Canada every month at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dai-quo/cal1-eng.htm.

Any revisions to the data after the first qualifying release will not count toward this market's resolution; only the initial figure released for each month will qualify. This market will resolve immediately upon a qualifying release of data.

If no data for the specified month is released by the date the next month's data is scheduled to be released, this market will resolve based on data from the last available month.
Volume
$9,375
End Date
Feb 15, 2027
Market Opened
Jan 29, 2026, 4:17 PM ET

Resolver

0x65070BE91...
This market will resolve to "Yes" if the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (15 years and over, total) reported by Statistics Canada in the Labour Force Survey for any month of 2026 is higher than that of any other month since January 2017 (inclusive). Otherwise, this market will resolve to "No". The resolution source for this market is the Labor Force Survey, published by Statistics Canada every month at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dai-quo/cal1-eng.htm. Any revisions to the data after the first qualifying release will not count toward this market's resolution; only the initial figure released for each month will qualify. This market will resolve immediately upon a qualifying release of data. If no data for the specified month is released by the date the next month's data is scheduled to be released, this market will resolve based on data from the last available month.

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Frequently Asked Questions

"Will Canada have the highest unemployment rate since 2016 this year?" is a prediction market on Polymarket where traders buy and sell "Yes" or "No" shares based on whether they believe this event will happen. The current crowd-sourced probability is 8% for "Yes." For example, if "Yes" is priced at 8¢, the market collectively assigns a 8% chance that this event will occur. These odds shift continuously as traders react to new developments and information. Shares in the correct outcome are redeemable for $1 each upon market resolution.

"Will Canada have the highest unemployment rate since 2016 this year?" is a newly created market on Polymarket, launched on Jan 29, 2026. As an early market, this is your opportunity to be among the first traders to set the odds and establish the market's initial price signals. You can also bookmark this page to track volume and trading activity as the market gains traction over time.

To trade on "Will Canada have the highest unemployment rate since 2016 this year?," simply choose whether you believe the answer is "Yes" or "No." Each side has a current price that reflects the market's implied probability. Enter your amount and click "Trade." If you buy "Yes" shares and the outcome resolves as "Yes," each share pays out $1. If it resolves as "No," your "Yes" shares pay $0. You can also sell your shares at any time before resolution if you want to lock in a profit or cut a loss.

The current probability for "Will Canada have the highest unemployment rate since 2016 this year?" is 8% for "Yes." This means the Polymarket crowd currently believes there is a 8% chance that this event will occur. These odds update in real-time based on actual trades, providing a continuously updated signal of what the market expects to happen.

The resolution rules for "Will Canada have the highest unemployment rate since 2016 this year?" define exactly what needs to happen for each outcome to be declared a winner — including the official data sources used to determine the result. You can review the complete resolution criteria in the "Rules" section on this page above the comments. We recommend reading the rules carefully before trading, as they specify the precise conditions, edge cases, and sources that govern how this market is settled.