Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo Employment Trends
The unemployment rate in Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo was 8.6% as of February 2026, up 0.3% from the previous month. The unemployment rate stood 4.5% below the peak from July 2020 but remains above the long-run average.
There were 1,200 fewer full-time jobs in February 2026 compared to a month earlier. Combined with a gain of 1,800 part-time positions, this led to an increase of 600 total jobs in February.
Full-time employment was down 1,200 jobs from the peak in January 2026.
* All figures are seasonally adjusted, 3-month moving averages. Seasonal adjustment removes normal seasonal fluctuations.
