More than one-quarter of self-employed Canadians plan to expand

Canada had an average of 2.7 million self-employed workers in 2026, accounting for 12.9% of employed people, according to a new Statistics Canada study.

Among self-employed workers, 27.6% said they planned to expand their business. The study also found gaps in employment-related benefits: 39.4% reported private health insurance and 33.3% had private dental insurance.

The figures cover a diverse group, from incorporated business owners with employees to independent workers operating on their own. That mix matters when comparing self-employment with paid work, because income stability, benefits and plans for growth can vary widely by business structure and industry.

Statistics Canada’s release is descriptive rather than financial advice. It provides a current snapshot of self-employment and the supports available to people working outside a conventional employer relationship.

Sources

• Statistics Canada, “Characteristics of self-employed workers, 2026”, released November 12, 2026.

Featured image: illustrative stock photo by Ellicia via Unsplash under the Unsplash License. Cropped and resized for publication; it does not depict the reported event.