Analysis — February 2010

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Employment rose by 21,000 in February, with large gains in full-time work partly offset by losses in part time. The unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage points to 8.2% in February.

Employment has been on an upward trend since July 2009 (+159,000). This contrasts with the sharp drop of 417,000 between the peak in October 2008 and July 2009.

Underlying February’s employment change was a notable gain in full time work (+60,000), which was partially offset by a decline in part time (-39,000). Since the summer of 2009, employment growth has been all in full time.

Men aged 55 and over accounted for all of February’s employment gain.

February's increase was among public sector employees (+46,000). Compared to the summer of 2009, the number of public and private sector employees has risen while self-employment is down slightly.

Employment increases in February occurred in accommodation and food services; business, building and other support services; manufacturing; health care and social assistance and natural resources. These gains were partially offset by losses in retail and wholesale trade; finance, insurance, real estate and leasing as well as ‘other services’.

Employment increased in February in British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, while it declined in Alberta. There was little change in the other provinces.

Employment up among older workers

Continuing on an upward trend sustained throughout the labour market downturn, employment for men aged 55 and over increased by 26,000 in February. This pushed the unemployment rate for this group down 0.6 percentage points, to 7.1%.

Employment for women aged 55 and over was little changed in February, and their unemployment rate was 5.7%.

Employment for men and women aged 55 and over has been trending up for a number of years, the result of employment growth combined with more people moving into that age group.

Employment was little changed for core-age workers (25 to 54) and youths in February. Since July 2009, employment has stabilized among core-age men and youths, whereas it has increased among core-age women.

Continued growth in natural resources

Within the goods sector, employment increased in manufacturing (+17,000) and natural resources (+11,000) in February. Following declines throughout the labour market downturn, natural resources has experienced employment growth since the early fall of 2009, while manufacturing employment has been stable.

In the service sector, the largest employment increases in February occurred in accommodation and food services (+27,000); business, building and other support services (+18,000); as well as in health care and social assistance (+16,000).

Offsetting these gains were employment losses in retail and wholesale trade (-34,000); finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (-22,000); and ‘other services’ (-13,000).

Employment in the service sector in February was 67,000 above its October 2008 level. However, employment in the goods sector remained 326,000 below its October 2008 level, with manufacturing accounting for the bulk of the losses (-206,000).

Slight gains in British Columbia

Building on gains since the summer of 2009, employment edged up by 10,000 in British Columbia in February and the unemployment rate dropped 0.4 percentage points to 7.7%.

Employment rose by 4,200 in Nova Scotia in February, pushing the unemployment rate in the province down 0.5 percentage points to 9.3%.

Employment increased by 4,100 in Saskatchewan in February. This brought the unemployment rate down 0.4 percentage points to 4.3%, the lowest of all provinces.

Following a sizable gain the month before, employment in Ontario was little changed in February and the unemployment rate was 9.1%. Since May 2009, employment in the province has grown by 1.4% (+92,000).

In February, employment in Quebec was also little changed and the unemployment rate was 8.1%. Employment in this province has been on an upward trend since July 2009, growing by 1.3% (+50,000).

Alberta was the only province with a notable employment loss in February (-15,000), pushing the unemployment rate up 0.3 percentage points to 6.9%. February marks the second month of employment declines in the province, bringing employment 0.9% (-19,000) lower than a year ago.