Windsor area jobless rate falls to 7.3% in September
Windsor's jobless rate fell to 7.3% in September, from 7.5% in August and 10.4% a year ago, Statistics Canada says. About 11,300 more people are working than last year. But Workforce WindsorEssex says youth unemployment is near 17.6%.
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The Windsor area's unemployment rate went down again in September, even as Canada lost jobs.
The numbers
Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey puts the unemployment rate for the Windsor census metropolitan area at 7.3 per cent in September 2026, down from 7.5 per cent in August. A year earlier it was 10.4 per cent. These are three-month moving averages, adjusted for seasonal changes. The Windsor area includes the city and nearby municipalities such as Tecumseh, LaSalle, Lakeshore and Amherstburg.
About 245,300 people in the area were employed, 11,300 more than in September 2025. About 19,200 people were unemployed and looking for work. The participation rate was 64.3 per cent, unchanged from August.
Across Canada, the economy lost 68,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate rose to 6.5 per cent. WindsorNewsToday.ca reported that Ontario's rate rose to 7.0 per cent.
What it means for you
Workforce WindsorEssex told AM800 News that the region added more than 13,000 jobs over the past three months, mostly with private-sector employers, and 2,700 manufacturing jobs over the past year. It said hiring at the new East Windsor Costco is not yet reflected in the numbers.
The picture is harder for younger workers. Workforce WindsorEssex said youth unemployment in the region is about 17.6 per cent, close to 10 points above the overall rate, while the rate for people 55 and older is 4.4 per cent.
