Employment increased by 41,000 in September, all in part-time work and mainly in Ontario. Despite the employment gain, the unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 7.7% as more people entered the labour market in search of work. The participation rate continued to trend upwards with an increase of 0.2 percentage points to 67.2%, the highest in over twelve years.

So far in 2002, employment has increased at a strong pace (+ 2.8%), with gains totalling 427,000. Over this nine-month period, full-time employment is up 255,000 (+2.1%) and the number of workers employed part-time has grown by 171,000 (+6.2%).

More youths working part-time

Part-time employment among youths rose by 47,000 while full-time employment fell by 52,000. Despite little overall change in September, youth employment growth has been strong since the start of the year (+3.3%) and especially over the summer. The unemployment rate among youths edged down in September to 13.7% (-0.1 percentage points).

Employment strength among adult women continued in September with an increase of 42,000, mostly in full-time (+31,000). For the first nine months of 2002, employment has increased by 177,000 (+3.0%). Even with the job gains in September, the unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 6.3% due to a large increase in labour force participation.

Employment among adult men was little changed in September. So far in 2002, job gains among adult men total 173,000 (+2.5%) with full-time employment up by 143,000.

Manufacturing dips in September

Despite a slight loss of 17,000 jobs in September, manufacturing remains a major source of strength in 2002 with gains totalling 132,000 (+5.9%). Losses in September were spread across several industries including transportation equipment, computer and electronic products as well as wood products.

The strength in manufacturing employment observed this year in Canada contrasts with the United States where the number of factory jobs has fallen by 2.4% over the first nine months of 2002.

More truck transportation jobs

Employment rose by 30,000 in transportation and warehousing with gains concentrated in trucking. This is consistent with the increase in factory jobs this year and recent strength in shipments.

Health care and social assistance employment rose by 20,000 in September, offsetting the decline in August. Since the start of the year employment in this industry is up 67,000 (+4.2%).

Employment in professional, scientific and technical services rose by 16,000 in September. This brings gains since the start of the year to 43,000 (+4.4%), mostly in Quebec and British Columbia.

Agricultural employment rose by 15,000 in September with small gains spread across most provinces.

Although unchanged in September, construction employment has increased by 45,000 (+5.3%) so far this year with strong growth in Quebec and British Columbia. Construction employment has been propelled by strength in the demand for new housing.

There were job losses of 36,000 in information, culture and recreation, mainly among youths. This brings employment in the industry to about the same level as the end of 2001.

Increase in self-employment

Almost half of the 41,000 overall employment gain was among self-employed workers (+19,000) and was concentrated in Ontario. Self-employment has strengthened since March bringing gains so far this year to 92,000 (+4.0%). However, this improvement follows a two-year period of steady losses.

There were only slight gains in the number of private (+9,000) and public (+14,000) sector employees in September, but since the start of the year the number has increased by 208,000 (+2.1%) and 127,000 (+4.5%), respectively.

More job gains in Ontario

In September, employment rose by 32,000 in Ontario after an increase of 44,000 in August. These recent gains are much stronger than the average monthly increase of 10,000 observed from January to July. The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points in September to 7.3% due to increased labour force participation.

The largest increases in Ontario were in education services and trucking. Although manufacturing employment was little changed in September, this industry has been a pillar of strength so far in 2002 and represents more than half (86,000) of the province's year-to-date employment gains (+149,000).

In Quebec, employment edged up 9,000 following declines totalling 21,000 over July and August. Overall employment in the province is up 116,000 (+ 3.3%) so far in 2002 due to robust growth in the first half of the year. The unemployment rate in September edged down 0.1 percentage points to 8.4%.

Employment rose by 5,000 in New Brunswick and was spread among several industries. This brings job gains so far this year to 11,000 (+3.4%). In September, the unemployment rate fell 0.3 percentage points to 10.2%.

There was little change in employment in the other provinces.