Largest Employers in Canada (2026)

Who is the largest employer in Canada? The federal public service is one of the country’s largest workforces, with 345,282 employees as of March 2026. In the private sector, Loblaw, Empire Company and Walmart Canada employ some of the largest workforces in the country.

Canada’s biggest employers operate in government, retail, banking, healthcare, telecommunications and manufacturing. Here are the largest employers, their reported employee numbers and the industries they represent.

On This Page:

• Canada’s Largest Employer
• Largest Private Employers
• Canadian Companies With Global Workforces
• Largest Public Employers
• Largest Employment Industries
• Employee Rights and Severance

Who Is the Largest Employer in Canada?

The Government of Canada is Canada’s largest national public-sector employer. The federal public service employed 345,282 people as of March 2026, according to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

These employees work across federal departments and agencies in administration, taxation, immigration, public safety, research and other government services.

The federal public service count doesn’t include every public-sector worker in Canada. Provincial governments, municipalities, school boards and public healthcare organizations employ millions more.

Source: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, 2026.

Related: List of Federally Regulated Employers in Canada.

Largest Private-Sector Employers in Canada

Loblaw, Empire Company and Walmart Canada are among Canada’s largest private-sector employers. Major banks also employ tens of thousands of Canadians.

The following figures represent reported Canadian workforces. Some retailers include employees of independently operated franchise locations, while other companies report their direct employees.

Sources: Company disclosures and 2026 employer profiles published by Canada’s Top 100 Employers. Figures reflect the latest reporting periods available, not a single census date. RBC, TD, Desjardins, CIBC and Air Canada figures include reported full-time and part-time employees.

Other major private-sector employers include Metro, Bell, Rogers, Canadian Tire, Canadian National Railway, Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Suncor, WSP Global, CGI and CPKC.

Canadian Companies With Large Global Workforces

Some Canadian-headquartered businesses employ far more people worldwide than they do in Canada. Their global totals shouldn’t be compared directly with Canadian employee counts.

Sources: 2025 annual reports and 2026 company disclosures from Brookfield, Magna, Couche-Tard and TELUS. These figures cover worldwide operations.

Largest Public Employers in Canada

Beyond the federal government, Canada’s largest public-sector employers include provincial healthcare organizations, Crown corporations and utilities.

Sources: Treasury Board, Alberta Health Services, and Canada Post’s 2025 Annual Report. *Alberta Health Services reports this workforce figure on its organizational website; its healthcare restructuring is changing organizational responsibilities.

Other major public employers include Hydro-Québec, Ontario Power Generation, the LCBO, BC Hydro, CBC/Radio-Canada and VIA Rail.

What Industries Employ the Most Canadians?

Large Canadian workforces are concentrated in several key industries:

• Government and public services: Federal, provincial and municipal departments and agencies
• Healthcare: Hospitals, health authorities and care providers
• Retail and grocery: Loblaw, Empire, Walmart and Canadian Tire
• Banking and finance: RBC, TD, Scotiabank, CIBC and BMO
• Telecommunications: Bell, Rogers and TELUS
• Manufacturing and transportation: Magna, Air Canada, CN and CPKC

Fired by One of Canada’s Largest Employers?

Working for a large company doesn’t change your right to full severance pay. If you’ve been fired or laid off, don’t assume your employer’s first offer is everything you’re owed.

Non-unionized employees in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia can receive up to 24 months’ pay, based on their age, length of service, position and other factors.

Your severance package can include salary, bonuses, benefits and other compensation. Employer-imposed deadlines don’t automatically end your legal rights.

Use our free Severance Pay Calculator to estimate your compensation.

The employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP represent non-unionized employees in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

Before you sign, always check first.