New Brunswick

Employment pauses in New Brunswick

• The province of New Brunswick saw a pause in employment growth in 2003, following strong job growth in 2002: the employment rate averaged 56.6% in 2003, compared with 56.9% the previous year. Although the employment rate fell somewhat, the rate was still 4.9 percentage points higher than a decade ago. Since 1996, when the recent upward trend in employment in the province began, employment growth has averaged 1.8% per year.
• In 2003, job gains were concentrated in manufacturing as well as in the health care and social assistance sector. These increases were offset by losses in accommodation and food services as well as in the transportation and warehousing sector.
• Since 1976, New Brunswick has seen one of the highest increases in employment rates among women. In 2003, over half (53.2%) of women were working, compared with slightly more than a third (34.1%) in 1976. In spite of this, the employment rate of New Brunswick women is still 4.0 percentage points below women's national average.
• The unemployment rate in New Brunswick averaged 10.6% in 2003, compared with 10.4% in 2002. The 2003 participation rate was also little changed at 63.3%, staying close to the record high.

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