Job losses worst since 1991: StatsCan

Manufacturing continues decline in Ontario

Canada's economy lost 55,000 jobs in July, the worst since the 1991 recession, according to Statistics Canada.

Most of the employment losses in July were in part time, down 48,000. Over the last 12 months, however, part-time employment has grown by 3.5 per cent, much faster than the 0.9 per cent growth in full time.

Employment decreases in July occurred in manufacturing;; and educational services (-27,000). The only significant gains were in accommodation and food services saw an added 22,000 jobs in July.

Most of the losses occurred in manufacturing, where employment declined by 32,000 in July. Ontario lost 41,000 factory jobs but Alberta added 7,000 new manufacturing jobs in July. Over the past 12 months, manufacturing employment across Canada was down 88,000, with nearly all the losses in Ontario.

The business, building and other support services sector lost 30,000 jobs and educational services saw a net loss of 27,000 jobs in July. The only significant gains were in accommodation and food services, which added 22,000 jobs in July.

Central Canada was hit hardest by job losses. Quebec lost 30,000 jobs in July, pushing the unemployment rate up 0.2 percentage points to 7.4 per cent and Ontario lost 19,000 full-time jobs. However, Ontario's unemployment rate declined 0.3 percentage points to 6.4 per cent, because 42,000 people, mostly youth aged 15 to 24, left the labour market.

With young people leaving the workforce, the national unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage points to 6.1 per cent. In recent months, employment for youth aged 15 to 24 has edged down, resulting in a year-over-year employment decline of 0.3 per cent.

At the other end of the spectrum, workers aged 55 and over have seen the fastest growth rate over the last 12 months. This group's employment grew by seven per cent, while employment for core-aged workers, 25 to 54, was up 0.5 per cent over the same period.

While employment grew by 1.3 per cent over the last 12 months (+227,000), the pace of growth has slowed in recent months. Employment gains have averaged 10,000 per month thus far in 2008 compared with an average monthly gain of 30,000 for 2007.

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