Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy in Canada
Canada: Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy was 20.67 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy in Canada, 1985–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
The most recent figure for economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in Canada is 20.67 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in Canada peaked at 20.67 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11.82 million, in 1985.
That places Canada 9th out of 29 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 11.82 million | — |
| 1986 | 12.06 million | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 12.30 million | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 12.53 million | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 12.73 million | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 12.88 million | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 12.98 million | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 13.05 million | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 13.13 million | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 13.24 million | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 13.38 million | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 13.55 million | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 13.76 million | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 14.01 million | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 14.30 million | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 14.62 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 14.95 million | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 15.27 million | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 15.57 million | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 15.85 million | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 16.11 million | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 16.35 million | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 16.57 million | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 16.77 million | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 16.96 million | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 17.15 million | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 17.33 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 17.52 million | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 17.70 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 17.86 million | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 18.03 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 18.22 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 18.42 million | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 18.63 million | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 18.81 million | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 18.96 million | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 19.18 million | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 19.52 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 19.93 million | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 20.32 million | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 20.67 million | +1.7% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 20.67 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.23 million, 4.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.29 million | 11.82 million | 12.73 million | 5 |
| 1990s | 13.43 million | 12.88 million | 14.30 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.90 million | 14.62 million | 16.96 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.97 million | 17.15 million | 18.81 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.76 million | 18.96 million | 20.67 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More economy & growth data for Canada
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.8812 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.66 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 57.17 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0246 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,373 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 69.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 9.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0298 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,657 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.88 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in Canada?
- Economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in Canada was 20.67 million in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 20.67 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.82 million in 1985.
- How does Canada rank for economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy?
- Canada ranks 9th out of 29 countries with data for 2025.
- Is economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
May 2024 - The OECD Economic Outlook presents the OECD’s analysis of the major global economic trends and prospects for the next two years. The Outlook puts forward a consistent set of projections for output, employment, government spending, prices and current balances based on a review of each member country and of the induced effect on each of them on international developments. OECD (2024), OECD Economic Outlook No 115 (Edition 2024/1) EO115 Database documentation EO115 Last historical points gdp inflation cpi population unemployment real gdp gdp per capita employment OECD Economic Outlook website: https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/ Contact: eco.outlook@oecd.org Keywords: Outlook, forecasts, forecast, GDP