Employment was little changed for the third consecutive month in July. The unemployment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 5.7% as more people searched for work.
Compared with July 2018, employment was up by 353,000 (+1.9%), driven by gains in full-time work (+326,000 or +2.2%). Over the same period, hours worked increased by 0.7%.
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Chart : Unemployment rate
Highlights
While employment was little changed overall in July, it decreased in Alberta, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and increased in Quebec and Prince Edward Island. Employment held steady in the other provinces.
There were fewer people working in wholesale and retail trade; transportation and warehousing; “other services”; and natural resources. In contrast, employment increased in construction and public administration.
The number of private sector employees fell in July, while self-employment rose.
Employment declined in July both for youth aged 15 to 24 and for women in the core working ages of 25 to 54, while it increased for core-aged men.
Provincial overview
Following an increase in June, employment in Alberta declined by 14,000 in July, all in full-time work. Employment decreased notably in accommodation and food services as well as in natural resources. The unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points to 7.0%. Compared with July 2018, employment in the province was little changed.
In Nova Scotia, employment fell by 6,200 in July, driven by decreases in part-time work. The unemployment rate increased by 0.8 percentage points to 7.4%. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the province was up 8,400 (+1.9%).
Employment in New Brunswick decreased by 4,800 in July, pushing the unemployment rate up 0.7 percentage points to 8.5%. Employment in the province held steady compared with 12 months earlier.
Following two months of little change, employment in Quebec rose by 17,000 in July, with notable increases in manufacturing and construction. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9% as more people participated in the labour market. Year over year, employment in Quebec increased by 96,000 (+2.3%).
Employment in Prince Edward Island increased by an estimated 1,000 in July, and the unemployment rate fell 0.9 percentage points to 8.4%. Compared with July 2018, employment in the province grew by 2,200 (+2.9%).
In Ontario, employment was little changed for the second consecutive month in July, as gains in full-time work were offset by losses in part-time work. The unemployment rate increased 0.3 percentage points to 5.7% as more people searched for work. Employment in Ontario was up 118,000 (+1.6%) from 12 months earlier.
Employment in British Columbia held steady for the second consecutive month in July. The unemployment rate was also little changed at 4.4%. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the province rose by 94,000 (+3.8%).
Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at The Daily — Labour Force Survey, July 2019
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