Labour Force Survey, May 2024
Released: 2024-06-07
Highlights
Employment was little changed in May (+27,000; +0.1%) and the employment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 61.3%.
The unemployment rate was 6.2% in May, up 0.1 percentage points in the month and 0.9 percentage points on a year-over-year basis.
Employment was up for young women aged 15 to 24 (+48,000; +3.7%) and for women aged 55 and older (+21,000; +1.1%) in May. At the same time, employment declined among core-aged women (aged 25 to 54) (-40,000; -0.6%) and young men (-23,000; -1.6%).
Employment rose in May in health care and social assistance (+30,000; +1.1%), finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+29,000; +2.0%), business, building and other support services (+19,000; +2.7%), as well as accommodation and food services (+13,000; +1.1%). It declined in construction (-30,000; -1.9%), transportation and warehousing (-21,000; -1.9%) and utilities (-5,400; -3.5%).
Employment increased in May in Ontario (+50,000; +0.6%), Manitoba (+7,800; +1.1%), and Saskatchewan (+5,400 +0.9%), while there were declines in Alberta (-20,000; -0.8%), Newfoundland and Labrador (-2,100; -0.9%) and Prince Edward Island (-1,100; -1.2%). There was little change in the remaining provinces.
Total hours worked were unchanged in May and were up 1.6% compared with 12 months earlier.
Average hourly wages among employees increased 5.1% (+$1.69 to $34.94) on a year-over-year basis in May, following growth of 4.7% in April (not seasonally adjusted).
The employment rate of returning students aged 20 to 24 was 61.0% in May, 2.9 percentage points lower than in May 2023 (63.9%) (not seasonally adjusted).
Employment holds steady in May following an increase in April
The total number of employed people was little changed in May (+27,000; +0.1%), following an increase of 90,000 (+0.4%) in April. On a year-over-year basis, employment was up by 402,000 (+2.0%) in May.
Part-time employment rose by 62,000 (+1.7%) in May, while full-time employment edged down (-36,000; -0.2%). On a year-over-year basis, part-time employment (+3.8%; +140,000) rose at a faster pace compared with full-time employment (+1.6%; +263,000).
Chart 1
Employment rate falls slightly in May, continuing downward trend
The employment rate—the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who are employed—declined 0.1 percentage points to 61.3% in May, the seventh decrease in the past eight months. Compared with its recent high of 62.4% reached in January and February 2023, the employment rate has fallen 1.1 percentage points, as population growth outpaced employment growth.
More people working part-time hours in their main job
While many workers in Canada work part-time (defined as working fewer than 30 hours per week) as a matter of choice, others do so involuntarily. Increases in the involuntary part-time rate can occur as a result of business or economic conditions, and may be an indicator of underemployment.
The involuntary part-time rate—the proportion of part-time workers who could not find a full-time job or who worked part-time due to poor business conditions—was 18.2% in May, up from 15.4% observed 12 months earlier.
In May, the proportion of involuntary part-time workers was up on a year-over-year basis among certain demographic groups. It was up 2.9 percentage points to 22.6% among women aged 25 to 54, and up 2.4 percentage points to 10.4% among women aged 55 and older. In addition, a greater share of young men (aged 15 to 24) worked part-time involuntarily in May (17.7%), an increase of 5.6 percentage points compared with May 2023 (not seasonally adjusted).
Youth employment rate unchanged in May, down compared with the same month a year prior
Employment rose by 48,000 (+3.7%) for young women aged 15 to 24 in May, the first increase in nine months. For male youth, employment declined by 23,000 in May (-1.6%), partly offsetting the increase in April (+39,000).
The youth employment rate was virtually unchanged in May at 55.6%, but has generally been on a strong downward trend following a recent high of 59.4% in March 2023. On a year-over-year basis, the youth employment rate was down 2.4 percentage points in May 2024, and was lower than the average rate of 58.2% observed from 2017 to 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employment rate falls among returning students
From May to August, the Labour Force Survey (LFS) collects labour market information from students who attended school full time in March and who intend to return to school full time in the fall. The month of May provides the first indicator of the summer job market, especially for students aged 20 to 24, as many younger students are still in school.
In May 2024, the employment rate of returning students aged 20 to 24 was 61.0%, 2.9 percentage points lower than in May 2023 (63.9%). In comparison, the average employment rate for May in 2017, 2018 and 2019 was 62.2% (not seasonally adjusted).
Chart 2
Decrease in employment rate among returning students in May
The decline from May 2023 to May 2024 for returning students was primarily among males aged 20 to 24, whose employment rate fell 6.6 percentage points to 57.3% over the period. The employment rate for female returning students aged 20 to 24 was 64.2% in May 2024, and was little changed from the same month a year earlier.
In May, among returning students aged 20 to 24, young men most commonly worked summer jobs in retail trade (27.2%), accommodation and food services (14.8%) and information, culture and recreation (10.7%). In comparison, young women most commonly worked summer jobs in accommodation and food services (23.6%), retail trade (20.9%) and health care and social assistance (15.0%).
Employment declines for core-aged women
Employment among core-aged women (aged 25 to 54) fell by 40,000 (-0.6%) in May, the first decline since March 2022. As a result, the employment rate of women in this age group fell 0.8 percentage points to 80.6% in May 2024, the lowest rate since January 2022.
For core-aged men, employment held steady in May 2024 and the employment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points to 87.1%. On a year-over-year basis, the employment rate for core-aged men was down 1.0 percentage points.
Despite trending down in the past year, the employment rates of core-aged women and men in May remained above their respective pre-pandemic annual averages from 2017 to 2019 (79.3% for women and 86.5% for men).
Among people aged 55 to 64, employment in May 2024 rose by 25,000 (+1.7%) for women while it declined by 12,000 for men (-0.7%). Compared with 12 months earlier, the employment rates in May were little changed at 60.5% for women in this age group and 70.3% for men. Overall, the employment rate for people aged 55 to 64 was 65.3% in May, higher than the average of 62.6% observed annually from 2017 to 2019.
Infographic 1
Employment rates below pre-pandemic average for youth
Unemployment rate ticks up to 6.2%
The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 6.2% in May. The unemployment rate has trended up since April 2023, rising 1.1 percentage points over the period.
Chart 3
Unemployment rate rises to 6.2% in May
There were 1.4 million unemployed people in May 2024, an increase of 28,000 (+2.1%) from the previous month. Of those who were unemployed in April 2024, just under one-quarter (24.0%) had transitioned to employment in May (not seasonally adjusted). This was lower than the pre-pandemic average for the same months in 2017, 2018 and 2019 (31.5%). A lower proportion of unemployed people transitioning into employment may indicate that people are facing greater difficulties finding work in the current labour market.
Long-term unemployment—the proportion of those who had been continuously unemployed for 27 weeks or more—stood at 18.2% in May, up from a recent low of 13.2% in August 2023.
Unemployment rates trending up across all major demographic groups over the previous 12 months
In May, the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 5.1% among core-aged women, and by 0.3 percentage points to 5.0% among men aged 55 and older. Meanwhile, it fell 0.9 percentage points to 11.7% among young women, as employment increased.
On a year-over-year basis, the unemployment rate was up across all major demographic groups, with youth aged 15 to 24 recording the largest increases. From May 2023 to May 2024, the unemployment rate rose by 1.7 percentage points for young women and by 1.9 percentage points for young men.
Employment increases in health care and social assistance, decreases in construction
Employment in health care and social assistance increased by 30,000 (+1.1%) in May, the third consecutive monthly increase. Over the previous 12 months, employment in the industry rose by 170,000 (+6.5%).
Employment also increased in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+29,000; +2.0%) in May, following little change the previous month. After declining in the second half of 2023, employment in this industry has rebounded, with a cumulative increase of 76,000 (+5.6%) since November 2023.
Chart 4
Employment increases in health care and social assistance in May
Employment in construction declined by 30,000 (-1.9%) in May 2024. On a year-over-year basis, employment in this industry was down by 35,000 (-2.2%).
Employment also declined in transportation and warehousing (-21,000; -1.9%) in May. Despite the change in the month, employment in this industry was up by 48,000 (+4.7%) on a year-over-year basis.
Employment up in three provinces in May, led by Ontario, while three provinces post declines, led by Alberta
Employment in Ontario increased by 50,000 (+0.6%) in May, the fourth gain in five months. From December to May, cumulative employment increases totalled 131,000 (+1.7%). In May, the employment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 60.8%. This was the first increase in Ontario's employment rate since June 2023. The unemployment rate in the province (6.7%) was little changed in May 2024.
Employment in Manitoba increased by 7,800 (+1.1%) in May, mostly offsetting declines in February and March. The unemployment rate in Manitoba was little changed at 4.9% in May, and was the lowest among the provinces.
In Saskatchewan, employment increased by 5,400 in May (+0.9%), the first significant gain since October 2023. Compared with May 2023, the employment rate remained at 63.7%, as employment growth (+2.9%) increased at a similar pace as population growth among those aged 15 and older in the LFS (+2.9%).
Employment in Alberta decreased by 20,000 (-0.8%) in May. This was the first significant decline in employment since September 2023. At 7.2%, the unemployment rate was little changed in May 2024. On a year-over-year basis, the population aged 15 and older in the LFS increased by 4.7%, while employment grew at a slower pace (+2.7%). As a result, the employment rate in Alberta fell 1.3 percentage points over the period to 64.4%.
Following an increase in April, employment in Quebec was virtually unchanged in May and the unemployment rate held steady at 5.1%. Employment in the province has varied little since September 2023, and the employment rate fell one percentage point to 61.2% over that period.
Map 1
Unemployment rate by province and territory, May 2024
In the spotlight: Employment rate down among core-aged Inuit in Nunavut
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, a time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations people, Inuit and Métis.
In May 2024, the employment rate for First Nations people aged 25 to 54 living off-reserve in the provinces was 68.7%, little changed from a year earlier (67.4%). Among First Nations youth (aged 15 to 24) living off-reserve, the employment rate fell 6.6 percentage points to 45.2% over the same period (three-month moving averages; not seasonally adjusted).
The employment rate of core-aged Métis living in the provinces was 77.8% in May, compared with 80.0% for the same month a year earlier. Among Métis youth, the employment rate was down 7.1 percentage points to 52.6% over the same period and among Métis aged 55 and older, it was down 8.6 percentage points to 31.3% (three-month moving averages; not seasonally adjusted).
Today, Statistics Canada released a new annual data table on the labour force characteristics of First Nations people, Inuit and Métis living in the three territories from 2007 to 2023. In 2023, the employment rate of core-aged Inuit in Nunavut was 51.8%, down 5.7 percentage points from a year earlier.
In the spotlight: Proportion of workers who work exclusively from home down slightly compared with 12 months ago
After most pandemic-related public health restrictions were lifted in 2022, the proportion of Canadians working exclusively from home fell notably, as many workers returned to their offices or work sites across the country. Since then, the share of Canadians working from home has declined much more slowly.
In May 2024, 13.2% of employed Canadians were working exclusively at home (population aged 15 to 69, not seasonally adjusted), and 10.3% had a hybrid work arrangement—that is, they usually worked some hours at home, and some hours at locations other than home. The proportion of workers working exclusively from home was down 5.5 percentage points compared with May 2022 and down 1.2 percentage points compared with May 2023. After increasing from 6.4% in May 2022 to 10.0% in May 2023, the share of workers with a hybrid arrangement was little changed in the 12 months ending in May 2024.
Did you know we have a mobile app?
Download our mobile app and get timely access to data at your fingertips! The StatsCAN app is available for free on the App Store and on Google Play.
Sustainable Development Goals
On January 1, 2016, the world officially began implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—the United Nations' transformative plan of action that addresses urgent global challenges over the next 15 years. The plan is based on 17 specific sustainable development goals.
The Labour Force Survey is an example of how Statistics Canada supports the reporting on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. This release will be used in helping to measure the following goals:
Note to readers
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates for May are for the week of May 12 to 18, 2024.
The LFS estimates are based on a sample and are therefore subject to sampling variability. As a result, monthly estimates will show more variability than trends observed over longer time periods. For more information, see "Interpreting Monthly Changes in Employment from the Labour Force Survey."
This analysis focuses on differences between estimates that are statistically significant at the 68% confidence level.
LFS estimates at the Canada level do not include the territories.
The LFS estimates are the first in a series of labour market indicators released by Statistics Canada, which includes indicators from programs such as the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours (SEPH); Employment Insurance Statistics; and the Job Vacancy and Wage Survey. For more information on the conceptual differences between employment measures from the LFS and those from the SEPH, refer to section 8 of the Guide to the Labour Force Survey (71-543-G).
Face-to-face personal interviewing resumed in November 2022. Telephone interviews continued to be conducted by interviewers working mainly from their homes rather than Statistics Canada's call centres, as they have since March 2020. About 50,000 interviews were completed in May 2024 and in-depth data quality evaluations conducted each month confirm that the LFS continues to produce an accurate portrait of Canada's labour market.
The employment rate is the number of employed people as a percentage of the population aged 15 and older. The rate for a particular group (for example, youths aged 15 to 24) is the number employed in that group as a percentage of the population for that group.
The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the labour force (employed and unemployed).
The participation rate is the number of employed and unemployed people as a percentage of the population aged 15 and older.
Full-time employment consists of persons who usually work 30 hours or more per week at their main or only job.
Part-time employment consists of persons who usually work less than 30 hours per week at their main or only job.
Total hours worked refers to the number of hours actually worked at the main job by the respondent during the reference week, including paid and unpaid hours. These hours reflect temporary decreases or increases in work hours (for example, hours lost due to illness, vacation, holidays or weather; or more hours worked due to overtime).
In general, month-to-month or year-to-year changes in the number of people employed in an age group reflect the net effect of two factors: (1) the number of people who changed employment status between reference periods, and (2) the number of employed people who entered or left the age group (including through aging, death or migration) between reference periods.
New data table on the labour force characteristics of Indigenous peoples living in the three territories
A new data table (14-10-0446-01) presenting labour force characteristics of Indigenous peoples living in the territories is now available on the Statistics Canada website. This new table provides annual estimates for First Nations people, Métis and Inuit and can help users monitor trends in employment, unemployment and labour force participation among Indigenous peoples.
In the provinces, labour force characteristics of Indigenous peoples living off-reserve are presented as three-month moving averages (table 14-10-0401-01). Annual data for Indigenous peoples in the provinces are also available, including employment estimates by industry (tables 14-10-0366-01 and 14-10-0367-01), and occupation (tables 14-10-0104-01 and 14-10-0363-01) as well as data describing average wages and hours worked (table 14-10-0418-01).
Seasonal adjustment
Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted estimates, which facilitate comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.
Population growth in the Labour Force Survey
The LFS target population includes all persons aged 15 years and older whose usual place of residence is in Canada, with the exception of those living on reserves, full-time members of the regular Armed Forces and persons living in institutions (including inmates of penal institutions and patients in hospitals and nursing homes).
The LFS target population includes temporary residents—that is, those with a valid work or study permit, their families, and refugee claimants—as well as permanent residents (landed immigrants) and the Canadian-born.
Information gathered from LFS respondents is weighted to represent the survey target population using population calibration totals. These totals are updated each month, using the most recently available information on population changes, including changes in the number of non-permanent residents. LFS population calibration totals are derived from Canada's official population estimates using similar sources and methods, with minor adjustments being made to reflect exclusions from the LFS target population.
Next release
The next release of the LFS will be on July 5. June data will reflect labour market conditions during the week of June 9 to 15.
Products
More information about the concepts and use of the Labour Force Survey is available online in the Guide to the Labour Force Survey (71-543-G).
The product "Labour Force Survey in brief: Interactive app" (14200001) is also available. This interactive visualization application provides seasonally adjusted estimates by province, sex, age group and industry.
The product "Labour Market Indicators, by province and census metropolitan area, seasonally adjusted" (71-607-X) is also available. This interactive dashboard provides customizable access to key labour market indicators.
The product "Labour Market Indicators, by province, territory and economic region, unadjusted for seasonality" (71-607-X) is also available. This dynamic web application provides access to labour market indicators for Canada, provinces, territories and economic regions.
The product Labour Force Survey: Public Use Microdata File (71M0001X) is also available. This public use microdata file contains non-aggregated data for a wide variety of variables collected from the Labour Force Survey. The data have been modified to ensure that no individual or business is directly or indirectly identified. This product is for users who prefer to do their own analysis by focusing on specific subgroups in the population or by cross-classifying variables that are not in our catalogued products.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
- Date modified: