COVID-19 and the labour market in May 2020
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Description: COVID-19 and the labour market in May 2020
COVID-19 and the labour market in May 2020
Between February and April…5.5 million Canadians were impacted by COVID-19 – including 3 million people who lost their jobs and 2.5 million who lost work hours
In May, most provinces began easing COVID-19 restrictions. Compared with April, in May...
- 290,000 more people had jobs, up almost 2%
- 292,000 fewer people were absent from work for COVID-related reasons, down 9%
- 201,000 more people were unemployed, up 8%
- 130,000 fewer people wanted a job but didn’t look for one, down 8.5%
| Employment (thousands) | |
|---|---|
| 2016 | |
| May | 18,052.20 |
| June | 18,057.20 |
| July | 18,044.50 |
| August | 18,088.90 |
| September | 18,147.40 |
| October | 18,181.40 |
| November | 18,164.80 |
| December | 18,193.90 |
| 2017 | |
| January | 18,276.40 |
| February | 18,289.80 |
| March | 18,306.10 |
| April | 18,323.10 |
| May | 18,372.40 |
| June | 18,414.60 |
| July | 18,438.80 |
| August | 18,474.90 |
| September | 18,467.40 |
| October | 18,496.80 |
| November | 18,560.50 |
| December | 18,625.30 |
| 2018 | |
| January | 18,551.40 |
| February | 18,559.40 |
| March | 18,601.40 |
| April | 18,595.20 |
| May | 18,590.30 |
| June | 18,630.00 |
| July | 18,690.50 |
| August | 18,640.50 |
| September | 18,699.40 |
| October | 18,715.40 |
| November | 18,815.00 |
| December | 18,824.70 |
| 2019 | |
| January | 18,891.40 |
| February | 18,944.10 |
| March | 18,943.90 |
| April | 19,041.60 |
| May | 19,050.40 |
| June | 19,051.20 |
| July | 19,037.90 |
| August | 19,113.30 |
| September | 19,154.90 |
| October | 19,151.70 |
| November | 19,097.30 |
| December | 19,124.60 |
| 2020 | |
| January | 19,159.10 |
| February | 19,189.40 |
| March | 18,178.70 |
| April | 16,184.90 |
| May | 16,474.50 |
|
Note: Recovery of 10% of employment lost from February to April, 2020. Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, table 14-10-0287-01. |
|
| Employment change (%) | ||
|---|---|---|
| from February to April | from April to May | |
| Canada | -15.7 | 1.8 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | -15.7 | 5.3 |
| Prince Edward Island | -14.0 | 3.8 |
| Nova Scotia | -16.0 | 2.2 |
| New Brunswick | -13.7 | 5.4 |
| Quebec | -18.7 | 6.5 |
| Ontario | -14.5 | -1.0 |
| Manitoba | -13.5 | 2.3 |
| Saskatchewan | -12.7 | 0.1 |
| Alberta | -15.5 | 1.4 |
| British Columbia | -15.6 | 2.0 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey. | ||
| Employment change (%) | ||
|---|---|---|
| from February to April | from April to May | |
| Men | -14.6 | 2.4 |
| Youth (15 to 24 years) | -30.5 | 2.9 |
| Core working age (25 to 54 years) | -12.0 | 1.7 |
| Older workers (55 and older) | -13.0 | 4.2 |
| Women | -16.9 | 1.1 |
| Youth (15 to 24 years) | -37.9 | 0.4 |
| Core working age (25 to 54 years) | -13.2 | 1.4 |
| Older workers (55 and older) | -14.2 | 0.4 |
| Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, table 14-10-0287-01. | ||
Lower-wageNote 1 jobs most affected
In March and April, employment in lower-wage jobs dropped by 38%, compared with 13% for all other paid employees
In May, employment in lower-wage jobs increased by almost 7% compared to 4% for all other paid employees
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey.
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