Employment holds steady in December
Employment was little changed (+8,200; 0.0%) in December, following three consecutive monthly increases in September, October and November (totalling 181,000; +0.9%). In December, the employment rate held steady at 60.9%. The unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points to 6.8%, as more people searched for work. Employment rose among people aged 55 and older (+33,000; +0.8%), while it fell among youth aged 15 to 24 (-27,000; -1.0%). Full-time employment rose by 50,000 (+0.3%) in December, while part-time employment fell by 42,000 (-1.1%).
Imports rebound in October
In October 2025, Canada's merchandise imports increased 3.4%, while exports were up 2.1%. As a result, Canada's merchandise trade balance with the world went from a small surplus of $243 million in September to a deficit of $583 million in October. Total imports rose 3.4% in October. Imports of electronic and electrical equipment and parts were up 10.2%, with all product groups increasing. Imports of computers and computer peripherals (+32.2%) rose the most to reach a record high in October.
Source: Canadian international merchandise trade, October 2025
Total tourism spending rises in the third quarter
Tourism gross domestic product (GDP), in real terms, grew 0.9% in the third quarter of 2025, matching the pace set in the second quarter. By comparison, economy-wide real GDP by industry was up 0.5% in the third quarter, following a 0.2% decline in the second quarter. Total tourism spending was up 0.7% in the third quarter. Higher domestic (+0.5%) and international (+1.2%) tourism spending both contributed to the overall growth in the third quarter.
Long-term gains in health-adjusted life expectancy disrupted in recent years
Health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) in Canada improved steadily through the early 2000s, reflecting gains in longevity and overall health in the Canadian population. From the 2000-to-2002 period to the 2010-to-2012 period, HALE at birth increased by nearly two years, peaking at 70.4 years, while HALE at age 65 years rose more gradually, increasing by 1.5 years. However, by 2023, HALE at birth had declined to 66.9 years, down 3.5 years from its peak in the 2010-to-2012 period, erasing more than a decade of progress. This reflects global trends following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eating healthier may not be an easy choice
A growing body of evidence is showing that eating a lot of ultra-processed food and drink products can be harmful to health. In 2015, energy intake from just over half of home dinners (53.9%) and dinners consumed in institutions (50.8%) were from unprocessed or minimally processed foods and drinks (MPF)—the only two scenarios in which MPF accounted for the majority of energy intake. This indicates that nutritious meals are often on the table. However, eating healthier may not be an easy choice for many. From 2015 to 2024, prices for healthier options such as fresh vegetables (+49.6%), fresh or frozen poultry (+38.3%) and fish (+39.6%) all increased at a faster pace than the overall grocery bill.
Source: New Year’s resolution: Cleaner diet. But it might be easier said than done
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).