Ontario, Alberta fuel job growth cooled by bitter January temperatures: Statistics Canada
Following strong gains in the last quarter of 2003, the national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.4 per cent in January.
Overall, 15,000 new jobs were added. An increase of 47,000 full-time jobs was offset by a decline in part-time work, according to the latest figures from Statistics Canada.
Since August 2003, when job growth gained momentum, full-time employment gains total 208,000 (up 1.6 per cent) while part-time employment has increased by only 12,000 (up 0.4 per cent.)
Since last August, employment among adult women has increased by 112,000 (up 1.8 per cent), all in full-time. For adult men, employment has risen at a slower pace of 1.1 per cent (up 82,000), with the gains in both full-time and part-time. Youth employment gains over this period total 26,000 (up 1.1 per cent), all in full-time.
As a result of continued strength in full-time employment, the number of hours worked rose for the third consecutive month, up 1.6 per cent since October.
More health care and social assistance jobs
Employment in health care and social assistance continued on its upward trend with an increase of 25,000 in January. Employment in this sector has shown growth since the summer of 2001, but the momentum has increased since last August. The gain in January was observed in several provinces, with the largest increase in Ontario.
In January, employment increased by 19,000 in professional, scientific and technical services, with gains concentrated in Ontario and Alberta. Despite this increase, employment in this sector has changed little over the last year after strong growth in 2002.
Employment also rose in information, culture and recreation (up 11,000). Compared with a year ago, employment in this sector is up 32,000, with the largest increase in amusement, gambling and recreation industries.
Employment in manufacturing was little changed for the second consecutive month, leaving losses since November 2002, when the downward trend started.
Statistics Canada said the bitterly cold weather that hit most of the country is January might be responsible for a decline in employment in accommodation and food services as well as construction.
Employment fell by 17,000 in accommodation and food services, with losses observed in most provinces. Following weakness in late spring and summer, employment in this sector had shown signs of recovery in the last quarter of 2003.
Construction bled 11,000 jobs in January, the result of a large decrease in Ontario. Despite this decline, construction has experienced robust job growth since 2002.
In January, employment fell by 7,000 in agriculture, offsetting the gain in December. This leaves employment in the sector 2.4 per cent below the level of a year ago. About half of the agricultural decline in January occurred in Alberta.
Unemployment rates by jurisdiction
| Jurisdiction | December 2003 | January 2004 | % change |
| Canada | 7.4 | 7.4 | -0.0 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 18.0 | 16.5 | -1.5 |
| Prince Edward Island | 10.1 | 10.8 | 0.7 |
| Nova Scotia | 9.0 | 9.7 | 0.7 |
| New Brunswick | 9.9 | 10.4 | 0.5 |
| Quebec | 9.4 | 9.1 | -0.3 |
| Ontario | 6.7 | 6.6 | -0.1 |
| Manitoba | 5.0 | 5.2 | 0.2 |
| Saskatchewan | 5.7 | 5.6 | -0.1 |
| Alberta | 4.8 | 5.0 | 0.2 |
| British Columbia | 6.8 | 7.3 | 0.5 |
