Last updated: October 2026 · Part of our Living in Ottawa guide
Ottawa’s largest employer is the federal government. Public administration employed 21.1% of Ottawa’s workforce in the 2021 Census, compared with 6.2% nationally. The city also has one of Canada’s largest technology clusters, centred on Kanata North, along with major hospitals, universities and defence employers. As of September 2026, Ottawa–Gatineau’s unemployment rate was 7.0%, as federal public service reductions continue.
This guide covers who employs Ottawa, how the market is changing and what it means for buying or selling a home.
Ottawa’s Economy at a Glance
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Public administration share of workers, Ottawa | 21.1% | Statistics Canada, 2021 Census |
| Public administration share of workers, Gatineau | 26.2% | Statistics Canada, 2021 Census |
| Median household income, Ottawa | $102,000 (Canada: $84,000) | Statistics Canada, 2021 Census |
| Ottawa–Gatineau unemployment rate, Sept 2026 | 7.0% (up from 6.7% in August) | Ottawa Business Journal / Canadian Press |
| Canada unemployment rate, Sept 2026 | 6.5% | Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey |
Ottawa has historically had a stable job market because of the public service. In 2026, that same concentration is a source of pressure, as the federal government shrinks its workforce.
The Federal Government
The federal public service is Ottawa’s anchor employer, with major workplaces downtown, at Tunney’s Pasture, at Confederation Heights, at the National Defence Headquarters (Carling) campus and across the river in Gatineau. Federal jobs are posted on the GC Jobs site.
In 2026, most public servants are required to work on site four days a week, which has made commute time a bigger factor in where federal workers buy. Our guide to moving to Ottawa for a government job matches federal workplaces with neighbourhoods.
Public Service Reductions
Budget 2025 set out a plan to reduce the public service by about 40,000 positions, or roughly 10%, from a peak of 367,772 employees in March 2024 to about 330,000 by 2028–29, according to CP24’s report on the budget. The plan relies on a mix of job cuts, attrition and a voluntary early retirement incentive.
Nationally, Statistics Canada reported that public sector employment fell by 70,000 in September 2026, the fourth straight monthly decline. For Ottawa homeowners, that’s the biggest economic story to watch. If you’re a public servant weighing a sale because of job uncertainty, see our guide to public service job cuts and your Ottawa home.
The Latest Monthly Numbers
The cuts are now showing up in local data. In September 2026, the Ottawa–Gatineau economy lost 8,300 jobs and its labour force shrank by 6,000, pushing the unemployment rate to 7.0%, the Ottawa Business Journal reported. Statistics Canada said the national job losses that month were concentrated in the public sector. Monthly figures for a single city move around a lot, so watch the trend over several months rather than any one report.
Technology: Kanata North and Beyond
Kanata North is Canada’s largest technology park. According to the City of Ottawa, more than 540 companies operate in the 550-hectare area, generating more than 30,000 jobs, mostly in tech. The Kanata North Business Association estimates the park contributes more than $13 billion a year to Canada’s GDP.
Invest Ottawa’s Why Ottawa sector overview lists more than 1,800 tech companies in Ottawa and names major employers by sector:
- Software and applied AI: Shopify, Tripadvisor, Assent and BlackBerry QNX
- Telecommunications: Nokia, Ericsson and Ciena. Invest Ottawa says Ottawa accounts for 90% of Canada’s industrial telecom R&D.
- Cybersecurity, semiconductors, photonics and smart mobility, including the Area X.O autonomous vehicle test site
Nokia is building a new campus in Kanata North, and new residential towers are planned nearby, according to the City. Our guide to relocating to Kanata’s tech hub covers housing near the park.
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Healthcare, Education and the City
Other large employers include:
- Hospitals: The Ottawa Hospital’s campuses, CHEO, Queensway Carleton, Montfort, the Royal Ottawa and Bruyère. See Healthcare in Ottawa.
- Post-secondary institutions: the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Algonquin College and La Cité
- School boards: the four publicly funded boards. See Ottawa schools.
- The City of Ottawa, including OC Transpo
The Ottawa Hospital by the Numbers
Health care is one of the city’s steadiest employers. The Ottawa Hospital, including the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, reports 13,302 employees, including 5,309 nurses, along with 1,751 physicians and 2,399 researchers, according to its annual report fast facts. The new Civic campus near Dow’s Lake, expected to open in 2029, will keep that workforce growing in the central west. See our guide to neighbourhoods near the new Civic hospital.
Who Works on Site
Where you work affects where you should live. Most federal public servants are now required on site four days a week, and more than 85% of City of Ottawa employees are in the workplace every day, CTV News reported in 2025. Hospital, school and transit jobs are on site by nature. If your household has two commuters heading in different directions, map both commutes before you shortlist a neighbourhood.
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Can you get cash back when buying a home in Ottawa? Yes. Jason Polonski, a Chairman's Club REALTOR® serving Ottawa and Kanata, shares part of his commission with buyers — up to $3,000 cash back at closing.* You still get full-service, award-winning representation: expert pricing, sharp negotiation, and hands-on guidance from first showing to keys in hand. No cut corners and no rebate-only shortcuts — just real money back in your pocket when you buy your Ottawa or Kanata home.
Defence, Aerospace and Security
Invest Ottawa lists more than 300 aerospace and defence companies in Ottawa and more than 100 cybersecurity companies. The Department of National Defence’s Carling Campus in the west end is planned to consolidate about 8,500 personnel, which makes nearby Bells Corners, Crystal Bay, Bayshore and Kanata practical for defence workers.
Where Ottawa’s Jobs Are, and Where People Live
| Job centre | Neighbourhoods with a practical commute |
|---|---|
| Downtown and Parliament | Centretown, the Glebe, Westboro, Sandy Hill and homes along the O-Train |
| Tunney’s Pasture | Westboro, Hintonburg, Wellington West, the west end |
| Kanata North | Kanata, Stittsville, Carp, Dunrobin |
| DND Carling Campus | Bells Corners, Bayshore, Kanata, Nepean |
| Confederation Heights and the General/CHEO campuses | Alta Vista, Riverview Park, Riverside South, Barrhaven |
| Gatineau federal complexes | Central Ottawa near the bridges, or Gatineau itself |
Commutes vary a lot by time of day and season. See Commuting in Ottawa for transit and driving details.
What the Job Market Means for Buyers and Sellers
- Buyers: job security affects mortgage approval. Lenders look closely at probationary periods, term positions and contract work. Talk to a mortgage professional before you shop.
- Public servants: if your position is affected, understand your options before listing. A forced sale is rarely the best sale.
- Tech workers: Kanata North’s growth supports demand for homes in Kanata and Stittsville, especially for buyers who want to avoid a long commute.
- Sellers: local employment trends affect buyer confidence. Jason tracks the market monthly, so you can time your sale with current data. See the latest Ottawa market update.
Our cost of living in Ottawa guide helps you compare a job offer against housing, tax and childcare costs.
Changing Jobs or Moving for Work?
Jason can help you choose a neighbourhood that fits your new commute, or plan a sale if your job situation has changed. Call or text (613) 601-9333.
Related Living in Ottawa Guides
Working With Jason Polonski
Jason Polonski is a Kanata-based REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty and more than 15 years of experience helping public servants, tech workers and relocating families buy and sell across Ottawa. His office is in Kanata, close to Kanata North, and he understands how the city’s job centres shape demand in each neighbourhood.
His Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University, with a double major in Marketing and Finance, helps him read economic trends and explain what they mean for pricing. His background in construction and the electrical trades helps him assess a home’s condition. Read his Google reviews or learn more about Jason.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ottawa's Job Market
The federal government is the largest by far, followed by major hospitals, universities and colleges, the City of Ottawa and technology companies such as Nokia, Ciena, Shopify and Ericsson.
Ottawa–Gatineau’s unemployment rate was 7.0% in September 2026, up from 6.7% in August, according to Statistics Canada data reported by the Canadian Press.
In the 2021 Census, 21.1% of Ottawa’s workforce was in public administration, and 26.2% in Gatineau.
Yes. Budget 2025 plans to reduce the public service to about 330,000 by 2028–29, roughly 40,000 fewer positions than the 2024 peak, through cuts, attrition and early retirement.
Canada’s largest technology park, with more than 540 companies and more than 30,000 jobs in Ottawa’s west end, according to the City of Ottawa.
Kanata, Stittsville, Carp and Dunrobin offer the shortest commutes, with homes ranging from townhomes to rural acreages.
The Ottawa Hospital, including the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, reports 13,302 employees, including 5,309 nurses, plus 1,751 physicians and 2,399 researchers.
It softened in 2026. Ottawa–Gatineau lost 8,300 jobs in September 2026 and unemployment rose to 7.0%, with national losses concentrated in the public sector. Health care and technology remain significant employers.
