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Employment increased by 27,000 in August, led by part-time work and among private sector employees. The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 8.7% as more people participated in the labour market.
Since employment peaked in October 2008, total employment has fallen by 387,000 (-2.3%). The trend in employment, however, has changed recently. Over the last five months, employment has fallen by 31,000, a much smaller decline than the 357,000 observed during the five months following October 2008.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates are based on a sample, and are therefore subject to sampling variability. Estimates for smaller geographic areas or industries will have more variability. For an explanation of sampling variability of estimates, and how to use standard errors to assess this variability, consult the "Data quality" section of the publication Labour Force Information (71-001-X, free).
Changes in average hourly wages are affected by shifts in the composition of the Canadian labour force. For example, a drop in employment in low-wage occupations or industries will contribute to an increase in the national average hourly wage.
In August, part-time employment rose by 31,000. Since October, full-time work has dropped by 486,000 (-3.5%), partially offset by increases in part time of 99,000 (+3.1%).
Employment among private sector employees increased by 49,000 in August, the first increase in this group since September 2008. Employment among both public sector employees and the self-employed edged down in August.
Increases were observed in a number of industries in August, including retail and wholesale trade, as well as finance, insurance, real estate and leasing. Total employment gains were partially offset by losses in business, building and other support services, as well as educational services.
In August, employment edged up in most provinces. Saskatchewan was the only province with a notable decline.
The employment increase in August was concentrated among women aged 25 to 54.
The 2009 summer labour market was one of the most challenging for students aged 15 to 24. Their average unemployment rate reached 19.2% over the summer months, the second highest rate since comparable data became available in 1977.
Average hourly wages were up 3.3% compared with August 2008, the lowest year-over-year growth in more than two years.
There were employment increases in a number of industries in August, with the largest in retail and wholesale trade (+21,000) and finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (+18,000). Total employment gains were partially offset by losses in business, building and other support services (-33,000), as well as educational services (-17,000).
Employment in the manufacturing sector continued its downward trend in August, while construction rose slightly.
In the five months following the employment peak of October 2008, employment fell in almost all industries, especially manufacturing and construction. In the past five months, however, while manufacturing has continued its decline, employment in construction has stabilized and it has increased in most service industries.
Manitoba's employment increased by 3,400 in August. However, the unemployment rate climbed 0.5 percentage points to 5.7% as more people looked for work.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, employment rose by 2,900 in August and the unemployment rate fell 1.5 percentage points to 15.6%. Since October, employment in the province has declined by 3,200 (-1.5%).
Employment in Ontario increased slightly for a second consecutive month in August. Despite these gains, employment in Ontario has declined by 207,000 (-3.1%) since last October. The province's unemployment rate in August was 9.4%, up 0.1 percentage points.
Following a large drop in July, employment in Quebec was little changed in August. The unemployment rate was 9.1%, up 0.1 percentage points. Since last October, employment in the province has decreased by 60,000 (-1.5%).
In Saskatchewan, employment declined for the second consecutive month, down 3,200 in August. The unemployment rate, while up 0.3 percentage points, remained the lowest in Canada at 5.0%.
Women aged 25 to 54 were the only demographic group with an employment increase in August (+23,000). Since last October, employment for this group has declined over the whole period, with losses totalling 77,000.
The largest employment decreases since October 2008, however, were for youths (-210,000) and men aged 25 to 54 (-194,000). While employment for youths has declined throughout the entire 10-month period, all the losses for men occurred during the first 5 months.
Among workers aged 55 and over, employment rose by 93,000 since last October, particularly in the last 5 months.
From May to August, the Labour Force Survey collects labour market information about young people aged 15 to 24 who were attending school full time in March and intend to return to school in the fall. The published estimates are not seasonally adjusted; therefore, comparisons can only be made on a year-over-year basis.
In August, employment was down 128,000 (-9.5%) among students aged 15 to 24 compared with August 2008, the fastest year-over-year rate of decline for a month of August since 1983.
The unemployment rate reached 16.4% for students in August, up 5.0 percentage points compared with the same month last year. This was the highest August unemployment rate for these students since comparable data became available in 1977.
The 2009 summer labour market was one of the most challenging for students. The average unemployment rate for the summer was 19.2%, the second highest rate since comparable data became available in 1977. In addition to a high unemployment rate, the average number of hours worked during the summer by students was the lowest since 1977, at 23.4 hours per week.
Available on CANSIM: tables 282-0001 to 282-0042, 282-0047 to 282-0064 and 282-0069 to 282-0100.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3701.
A more detailed summary, Labour Force Information (71-001-X, free), is now available online for the week ending August 15. From the Publications module of our website, under All subjects, choose Labour. LAN and bulk prices are available on request. The CD-ROM Labour Force Historical Review, 2008 (71F0004X, $209), is now available. See How to order products.
Data tables are also now available online. From the By subject module of our website, choose Labour.
The next release of the Labour Force Survey will be on October 9.
For general information, or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-873-8788; 613-951-4090; labour@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact, Vincent Ferrao (613-951-4750; vincent.ferrao@statcan.gc.ca) or Judy Hosein (613-951-5704; judy.hosein@statcan.gc.ca), Labour Statistics Division.
July 2009 | August 2009 | July to August 2009 | August 2008 to August 2009 | July to August 2009 | August 2008 to August 2009 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasonally adjusted | ||||||
thousands | change in thousands | % change | ||||
Both sexes, 15 years and over | ||||||
Population | 27,326.0 | 27,358.4 | 32.4 | 384.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
Labour force | 18,363.2 | 18,412.3 | 49.1 | 191.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 |
Employment | 16,780.3 | 16,807.4 | 27.1 | -292.8 | 0.2 | -1.7 |
Full-time | 13,521.5 | 13,518.0 | -3.5 | -440.7 | 0.0 | -3.2 |
Part-time | 3,258.8 | 3,289.4 | 30.6 | 148.0 | 0.9 | 4.7 |
Unemployment | 1,583.0 | 1,604.9 | 21.9 | 484.1 | 1.4 | 43.2 |
Participation rate | 67.2 | 67.3 | 0.1 | -0.2 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 8.6 | 8.7 | 0.1 | 2.5 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 61.4 | 61.4 | 0.0 | -2.0 | ... | ... |
Part-time rate | 19.4 | 19.6 | 0.2 | 1.2 | ... | ... |
Youths, 15 to 24 years | ||||||
Population | 4,396.1 | 4,396.8 | 0.7 | 18.3 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
Labour force | 2,859.9 | 2,858.3 | -1.6 | -64.2 | -0.1 | -2.2 |
Employment | 2,395.9 | 2,391.0 | -4.9 | -207.2 | -0.2 | -8.0 |
Full-time | 1,231.4 | 1,213.3 | -18.1 | -215.9 | -1.5 | -15.1 |
Part-time | 1,164.5 | 1,177.7 | 13.2 | 8.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 |
Unemployment | 464.1 | 467.3 | 3.2 | 143.0 | 0.7 | 44.1 |
Participation rate | 65.1 | 65.0 | -0.1 | -1.7 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 16.2 | 16.3 | 0.1 | 5.2 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 54.5 | 54.4 | -0.1 | -4.9 | ... | ... |
Part-time rate | 48.6 | 49.3 | 0.7 | 4.3 | ... | ... |
Men, 25 years and over | ||||||
Population | 11,211.6 | 11,228.2 | 16.6 | 185.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 |
Labour force | 8,255.6 | 8,272.1 | 16.5 | 129.1 | 0.2 | 1.6 |
Employment | 7,568.8 | 7,576.8 | 8.0 | -127.7 | 0.1 | -1.7 |
Full-time | 6,994.7 | 7,000.3 | 5.6 | -175.3 | 0.1 | -2.4 |
Part-time | 574.1 | 576.5 | 2.4 | 47.6 | 0.4 | 9.0 |
Unemployment | 686.8 | 695.3 | 8.5 | 256.8 | 1.2 | 58.6 |
Participation rate | 73.6 | 73.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 8.3 | 8.4 | 0.1 | 3.0 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 67.5 | 67.5 | 0.0 | -2.3 | ... | ... |
Part-time rate | 7.6 | 7.6 | 0.0 | 0.7 | ... | ... |
Women, 25 years and over | ||||||
Population | 11,718.3 | 11,733.4 | 15.1 | 180.5 | 0.1 | 1.6 |
Labour force | 7,247.7 | 7,281.9 | 34.2 | 126.4 | 0.5 | 1.8 |
Employment | 6,815.6 | 6,839.6 | 24.0 | 42.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
Full-time | 5,295.4 | 5,304.5 | 9.1 | -49.4 | 0.2 | -0.9 |
Part-time | 1,520.2 | 1,535.1 | 14.9 | 91.6 | 1.0 | 6.3 |
Unemployment | 432.1 | 442.3 | 10.2 | 84.3 | 2.4 | 23.5 |
Participation rate | 61.8 | 62.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 6.0 | 6.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 58.2 | 58.3 | 0.1 | -0.5 | ... | ... |
Part-time rate | 22.3 | 22.4 | 0.1 | 1.2 | ... | ... |
July 2009 | August 2009 | July to August 2009 | August 2008 to August 2009 | July to August 2009 | August 2008 to August 2009 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasonally adjusted | ||||||
thousands | change in thousands | % change | ||||
Class of worker | ||||||
Employees | 14,053.5 | 14,091.2 | 37.7 | -385.6 | 0.3 | -2.7 |
Self-employed | 2,726.8 | 2,716.2 | -10.6 | 92.8 | -0.4 | 3.5 |
Public/private sector employees | ||||||
Public | 3,408.1 | 3,396.6 | -11.5 | -20.1 | -0.3 | -0.6 |
Private | 10,645.4 | 10,694.6 | 49.2 | -365.5 | 0.5 | -3.3 |
All industries | 16,780.3 | 16,807.4 | 27.1 | -292.8 | 0.2 | -1.7 |
Goods-producing sector | 3,675.2 | 3,668.4 | -6.8 | -361.6 | -0.2 | -9.0 |
Agriculture | 323.7 | 320.0 | -3.7 | 7.1 | -1.1 | 2.3 |
Natural resources | 316.0 | 319.3 | 3.3 | -18.2 | 1.0 | -5.4 |
Utilities | 149.3 | 148.0 | -1.3 | -12.8 | -0.9 | -8.0 |
Construction | 1,130.1 | 1,142.2 | 12.1 | -106.4 | 1.1 | -8.5 |
Manufacturing | 1,756.2 | 1,738.9 | -17.3 | -231.3 | -1.0 | -11.7 |
Services-producing sector | 13,105.1 | 13,139.0 | 33.9 | 68.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
Trade | 2,639.7 | 2,660.9 | 21.2 | -9.8 | 0.8 | -0.4 |
Transportation and warehousing | 810.7 | 819.0 | 8.3 | -40.5 | 1.0 | -4.7 |
Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing | 1,092.8 | 1,110.3 | 17.5 | 35.1 | 1.6 | 3.3 |
Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,202.5 | 1,212.9 | 10.4 | 16.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
Business, building and other support services | 682.6 | 649.9 | -32.7 | -7.2 | -4.8 | -1.1 |
Educational services | 1,187.2 | 1,170.5 | -16.7 | -26.4 | -1.4 | -2.2 |
Health care and social assistance | 1,937.4 | 1,940.9 | 3.5 | 57.8 | 0.2 | 3.1 |
Information, culture and recreation | 786.2 | 795.4 | 9.2 | 40.7 | 1.2 | 5.4 |
Accommodation and food services | 1,042.6 | 1,044.6 | 2.0 | -63.5 | 0.2 | -5.7 |
Other services | 791.1 | 800.2 | 9.1 | 51.9 | 1.2 | 6.9 |
Public administration | 932.4 | 934.3 | 1.9 | 14.4 | 0.2 | 1.6 |
July 2009 | August 2009 | July to August 2009 | August 2008 to August 2009 | July to August 2009 | August 2008 to August 2009 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasonally adjusted | ||||||
thousands | change in thousands | % change | ||||
Newfoundland and Labrador | ||||||
Population | 428.8 | 429.2 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 0.7 |
Labour force | 256.0 | 254.7 | -1.3 | 1.4 | -0.5 | 0.6 |
Employment | 212.2 | 215.1 | 2.9 | -3.6 | 1.4 | -1.6 |
Full-time | 182.7 | 189.1 | 6.4 | -1.6 | 3.5 | -0.8 |
Part-time | 29.5 | 25.9 | -3.6 | -2.1 | -12.2 | -7.5 |
Unemployment | 43.8 | 39.7 | -4.1 | 5.1 | -9.4 | 14.7 |
Participation rate | 59.7 | 59.3 | -0.4 | -0.1 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 17.1 | 15.6 | -1.5 | 1.9 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 49.5 | 50.1 | 0.6 | -1.2 | ... | ... |
Prince Edward Island | ||||||
Population | 116.2 | 116.4 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 1.4 |
Labour force | 78.9 | 79.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 |
Employment | 69.2 | 68.5 | -0.7 | -1.8 | -1.0 | -2.6 |
Full-time | 56.8 | 55.5 | -1.3 | -4.4 | -2.3 | -7.3 |
Part-time | 12.4 | 13.0 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 4.8 | 25.0 |
Unemployment | 9.7 | 10.9 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 12.4 | 32.9 |
Participation rate | 67.9 | 68.2 | 0.3 | -0.2 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 12.3 | 13.7 | 1.4 | 3.3 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 59.6 | 58.8 | -0.8 | -2.4 | ... | ... |
Nova Scotia | ||||||
Population | 772.5 | 772.8 | 0.3 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
Labour force | 496.4 | 500.5 | 4.1 | 8.1 | 0.8 | 1.6 |
Employment | 450.9 | 453.2 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
Full-time | 371.4 | 371.2 | -0.2 | -4.1 | -0.1 | -1.1 |
Part-time | 79.6 | 82.1 | 2.5 | 5.3 | 3.1 | 6.9 |
Unemployment | 45.5 | 47.3 | 1.8 | 7.1 | 4.0 | 17.7 |
Participation rate | 64.3 | 64.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 9.2 | 9.5 | 0.3 | 1.3 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 58.4 | 58.6 | 0.2 | -0.2 | ... | ... |
New Brunswick | ||||||
Population | 621.7 | 621.8 | 0.1 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
Labour force | 402.7 | 402.4 | -0.3 | 2.0 | -0.1 | 0.5 |
Employment | 364.9 | 364.9 | 0.0 | -1.6 | 0.0 | -0.4 |
Full-time | 306.2 | 306.8 | 0.6 | -1.3 | 0.2 | -0.4 |
Part-time | 58.7 | 58.1 | -0.6 | -0.3 | -1.0 | -0.5 |
Unemployment | 37.8 | 37.5 | -0.3 | 3.7 | -0.8 | 10.9 |
Participation rate | 64.8 | 64.7 | -0.1 | 0.0 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 9.4 | 9.3 | -0.1 | 0.9 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 58.7 | 58.7 | 0.0 | -0.5 | ... | ... |
Quebec | ||||||
Population | 6 438.4 | 6 444.3 | 5.9 | 64.8 | 0.1 | 1.0 |
Labour force | 4 201.1 | 4 212.8 | 11.7 | 32.2 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
Employment | 3 821.9 | 3 830.2 | 8.3 | -31.3 | 0.2 | -0.8 |
Full-time | 3 095.0 | 3 099.3 | 4.3 | -41.7 | 0.1 | -1.3 |
Part-time | 726.9 | 730.9 | 4.0 | 10.4 | 0.6 | 1.4 |
Unemployment | 379.2 | 382.6 | 3.4 | 63.5 | 0.9 | 19.9 |
Participation rate | 65.3 | 65.4 | 0.1 | -0.1 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 9.0 | 9.1 | 0.1 | 1.5 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 59.4 | 59.4 | 0.0 | -1.1 | ... | ... |
July 2009 | August 2009 | July to August 2009 | August 2008 to August 2009 | July to August 2009 | August 2008 to August 2009 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasonally adjusted | ||||||
thousands | change in thousands | % change | ||||
Ontario | ||||||
Population | 10,665.2 | 10,677.4 | 12.2 | 147.5 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
Labour force | 7,165.4 | 7,186.0 | 20.6 | 47.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
Employment | 6,500.3 | 6,512.5 | 12.2 | -170.4 | 0.2 | -2.5 |
Full-time | 5,227.6 | 5,204.0 | -23.6 | -227.7 | -0.5 | -4.2 |
Part-time | 1,272.7 | 1,308.5 | 35.8 | 57.4 | 2.8 | 4.6 |
Unemployment | 665.1 | 673.5 | 8.4 | 218.1 | 1.3 | 47.9 |
Participation rate | 67.2 | 67.3 | 0.1 | -0.5 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 9.3 | 9.4 | 0.1 | 3.0 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 60.9 | 61.0 | 0.1 | -2.5 | ... | ... |
Manitoba | ||||||
Population | 923.8 | 925.0 | 1.2 | 13.7 | 0.1 | 1.5 |
Labour force | 641.0 | 648.5 | 7.5 | 18.0 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
Employment | 607.9 | 611.3 | 3.4 | 5.9 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
Full-time | 490.3 | 489.6 | -0.7 | -0.8 | -0.1 | -0.2 |
Part-time | 117.6 | 121.7 | 4.1 | 6.6 | 3.5 | 5.7 |
Unemployment | 33.1 | 37.2 | 4.1 | 12.1 | 12.4 | 48.2 |
Participation rate | 69.4 | 70.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 5.2 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 1.7 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 65.8 | 66.1 | 0.3 | -0.3 | ... | ... |
Saskatchewan | ||||||
Population | 780.2 | 781.0 | 0.8 | 11.8 | 0.1 | 1.5 |
Labour force | 546.0 | 544.2 | -1.8 | 7.1 | -0.3 | 1.3 |
Employment | 520.1 | 516.9 | -3.2 | 3.8 | -0.6 | 0.7 |
Full-time | 417.1 | 415.0 | -2.1 | -5.9 | -0.5 | -1.4 |
Part-time | 103.0 | 101.9 | -1.1 | 9.8 | -1.1 | 10.6 |
Unemployment | 25.9 | 27.3 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 5.4 | 13.3 |
Participation rate | 70.0 | 69.7 | -0.3 | -0.1 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 4.7 | 5.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 66.7 | 66.2 | -0.5 | -0.5 | ... | ... |
Alberta | ||||||
Population | 2,870.2 | 2,876.0 | 5.8 | 72.3 | 0.2 | 2.6 |
Labour force | 2,139.7 | 2,136.8 | -2.9 | 56.2 | -0.1 | 2.7 |
Employment | 1,985.8 | 1,979.1 | -6.7 | -27.8 | -0.3 | -1.4 |
Full-time | 1,624.5 | 1,613.2 | -11.3 | -74.8 | -0.7 | -4.4 |
Part-time | 361.2 | 365.9 | 4.7 | 46.9 | 1.3 | 14.7 |
Unemployment | 153.9 | 157.7 | 3.8 | 84.0 | 2.5 | 114.0 |
Participation rate | 74.5 | 74.3 | -0.2 | 0.1 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 7.2 | 7.4 | 0.2 | 3.9 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 69.2 | 68.8 | -0.4 | -2.8 | ... | ... |
British Columbia | ||||||
Population | 3,709.1 | 3,714.5 | 5.4 | 63.0 | 0.1 | 1.7 |
Labour force | 2,436.0 | 2,447.0 | 11.0 | 17.8 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
Employment | 2,247.1 | 2,255.7 | 8.6 | -67.0 | 0.4 | -2.9 |
Full-time | 1,750.0 | 1,774.8 | 24.8 | -78.0 | 1.4 | -4.2 |
Part-time | 497.1 | 480.8 | -16.3 | 10.8 | -3.3 | 2.3 |
Unemployment | 188.9 | 191.3 | 2.4 | 84.8 | 1.3 | 79.6 |
Participation rate | 65.7 | 65.9 | 0.2 | -0.6 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 7.8 | 7.8 | 0.0 | 3.4 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 60.6 | 60.7 | 0.1 | -2.9 | ... | ... |