April Job Report for Canada – Employment down by -20,000, UR held steady at 6.8% for the third consecutive month

Employment edged down in April (-20,000), as gains in full-time work were more than offset by losses in part time. The unemployment rate held steady at 6.8% for the third consecutive month.

In the 12 months to April, employment increased by 139,000 (+0.8%), with all of the growth in full-time work. Over the same period, the total number of hours worked increased by 0.9%.

Chart 1 Employment

In April, employment declined for women aged 55 and older and increased for their male counterparts. There was little change among the other demographic groups.

Provincially, employment fell in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, while it rose in Alberta as well as in Newfoundland and Labrador.

There were fewer people working in construction, retail and wholesale trade, as well as in information, culture and recreation in April. At the same time, there were more people working in business, building and other support services as well as in manufacturing.

Part-time employment declined by 67,000 in April, partly offset by an increase of 47,000 in full time.

In April, public sector employment declined and the number of self-employed workers edged down. There was little change in the number of private sector employees.

Chart 2 Unemployment rate

via The Daily — Labour Force Survey, April 2015.