Canada / Unemployment rate declined to 6.9% as fewer youths searched for work

Employment was little changed in September, while the unemployment rate declined 0.2 percentage points to 6.9% as fewer youths searched for work.

Employment was up 1.2% (+212,000) compared with 12 months earlier. During this same period, however, the employment rate was little changed, as employment and the working-age population grew at a similar pace.

Since September 2012, the number of hours worked rose by 0.8%, as part-time employment grew at a faster pace than full time.

Chart 1 Employment

There were employment gains in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing as well as natural resources and agriculture in September. At the same time, there were declines in manufacturing and public administration.

In September, employment was up in New Brunswick and down in Saskatchewan, while there was little change in the other provinces.

The number of private sector employees increased in September, while self-employment declined.

There were no notable employment changes among the major demographic groups.

Chart 2 Unemployment rate

Few employment changes by province

In New Brunswick, employment increased by 2,800 in September, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 10.7%. Employment in this province was at a level similar to that of 12 months earlier.

Employment in Saskatchewan fell by 3,200. Despite this decline, employment grew by 3.1% year over year, the second highest growth rate after Alberta. In September, the unemployment rate in Saskatchewan was 4.3%, which was the same as in Alberta and the lowest among the provinces.

In September, employment in Ontario was little changed. At the same time, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 7.3% as fewer youths looked for work. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in the province grew by 1.7%, above the national average of 1.2%.

Despite little change in employment in Quebec, the unemployment rate declined 0.3 percentage points to 7.6% as fewer youths searched for work. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in the province was little changed, as gains in the first five months of the period were offset by recent losses.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at 

via The Daily — Labour Force Survey, September 2013.