Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo Employment Trends
The unemployment rate in Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo was 8.7% as of May 2026, down 0.3% from the previous month. The unemployment rate stood 4.4% below the peak from July 2020 but remains above the long-run average.
There were 1,700 fewer full-time jobs in May 2026 compared to a month earlier. Combined with a gain of 200 part-time positions, this led to a decrease of 1,500 total jobs in May.
Full-time employment was down 5,600 jobs from the peak in January 2026.
* All figures are seasonally adjusted, 3-month moving averages. Seasonal adjustment removes normal seasonal fluctuations.
