Number of people employed in Provincial Government in Canada (2001-2024)

Provincial and Territorial Public Administration Employment in Canada (2001-2024)

Employment in Canada’s provincial and territorial public administration has demonstrated steady growth with some fluctuations over the past two decades. Tracking the workforce from 2001 to 2024 reveals patterns influenced by policy changes, economic cycles, and administrative reforms across provincial and territorial governments.

Key Employment Trends

• Growth Over Time: The number of employees increased from 237,956 in 2001 to 353,027 in 2024, marking a 48% growth over 23 years.
• Periods of Strong Growth: Notable increases include 2008 (5%), 2018 (5%), and 2023 (5%), driven by expanded public services.
• Years of Decline: Employment dipped in 2002 (-2%), 2004 (-1%), 2015 (-1%), and 2020 (-1%), reflecting fiscal tightening or public sector restructuring.
• Recent Recovery: From 2021 onwards, employment saw consistent growth, reaching 353,027 employees in 2024, with a 3% increase over the previous year.

Number of People Employed in Provincial Government in Canada (2001-2024)

Year	Total Employees in Provincial and Territorial Public Administration	Growth YoY
2001	237,956
2002	234,191	-2%
2003	240,906	3%
2004	239,622	-1%
2005	247,583	3%
2006	251,052	1%
2007	255,146	2%
2008	266,784	5%
2009	273,065	2%
2010	279,439	2%
2011	281,868	1%
2012	283,495	1%
2013	284,076	0%
2014	284,489	0%
2015	281,548	-1%
2016	285,726	1%
2017	293,544	3%
2018	306,873	5%
2019	314,356	2%
2020	310,770	-1%
2021	319,516	3%
2022	328,180	3%
2023	344,286	5%
2024	353,027	3%

Source:

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0202-01  Employment by industry, annual