There is no central repository for employment records in Canada. Private companies retain their own personnel files, usually disposing of older ones after a certain period of time.
Some companies maintain their own archives, or deposit older company records with an archives.
To determine if employment records have survived, you must first determine if the company is still in existence, and if so, contact them regarding their holdings. The National Archives holds the archival records of some private companies, which may or may not include old personnel files. If you know the company name and the period of employment, you may wish to send a written inquiry to determine if we hold any relevant records and how they can be accessed. The files are destroyed after the individual's eightieth birthday, with the exception of a few files deemed to be of historical significance. For information about access to the personnel files of civil servants born less than 80 years ago, please consult our Military and Civilian Personnel Records Unit.