Flood of workers into labour market offsets job creation, but student employment is at highest rate in a decade
The unemployment rate edged up slightly in July and now sits at 7.6 per cent.
According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate rose 0.1 per cent last month, despite the creation of 23,000 more jobs. The reason? More people entered the labour market in search of work.
Since January, employment has surged, with 326,000 new jobs created, an increase of 2.2 per cent for the year. This is in sharp contrast to figures from south of the border. Employment figures in the U.S. have been flat for the last five months.
Summer jobs plentiful
Far more students have found summer employment this year than last. Compared to July 2001, 31,000 more students are working, with most of this increase going to those aged 20-24.
The proportion of students with a summer job rose 1.1 per cent to 58.4 per cent, the highest employment rate for students in a decade.
Number of help-wanted ads increasing
The number of help-wanted ads in newspapers increased slightly in July, the sixth straight monthly increase following 15 months of decline.
The help wanted index increased 0.5 per cent over June figures, according to Statistics Canada. But the index is still down 13.9 per cent from July 2001, and is still down significantly from the 15-month slide from November 2000 to January 2002.
The largest month-to-month increases of 1.8 per cent were posted in Alberta and Nova Scotia.
The help-wanted index is compiled from the number of help-wanted ads published in 22 newspapers in 20 major metropolitan areas and is considered an indicator of labour demand, measuring companies’ intentions to hire new workers.
Unemployment rates by jurisdiction
Canada: 7.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador: 15%
Prince Edward Island: 12.4%
Nova Scotia: 10%
New Brunswick: 10.5%
Quebec: 8.7%
Ontario: 7.2%
Manitoba: 5%
Saskatchewan: 5.3%
Alberta: 5%
British Columbia: 8.2%
According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate rose 0.1 per cent last month, despite the creation of 23,000 more jobs. The reason? More people entered the labour market in search of work.
Since January, employment has surged, with 326,000 new jobs created, an increase of 2.2 per cent for the year. This is in sharp contrast to figures from south of the border. Employment figures in the U.S. have been flat for the last five months.
Summer jobs plentiful
Far more students have found summer employment this year than last. Compared to July 2001, 31,000 more students are working, with most of this increase going to those aged 20-24.
The proportion of students with a summer job rose 1.1 per cent to 58.4 per cent, the highest employment rate for students in a decade.
Number of help-wanted ads increasing
The number of help-wanted ads in newspapers increased slightly in July, the sixth straight monthly increase following 15 months of decline.
The help wanted index increased 0.5 per cent over June figures, according to Statistics Canada. But the index is still down 13.9 per cent from July 2001, and is still down significantly from the 15-month slide from November 2000 to January 2002.
The largest month-to-month increases of 1.8 per cent were posted in Alberta and Nova Scotia.
The help-wanted index is compiled from the number of help-wanted ads published in 22 newspapers in 20 major metropolitan areas and is considered an indicator of labour demand, measuring companies’ intentions to hire new workers.
Unemployment rates by jurisdiction
Canada: 7.6%
Newfoundland and Labrador: 15%
Prince Edward Island: 12.4%
Nova Scotia: 10%
New Brunswick: 10.5%
Quebec: 8.7%
Ontario: 7.2%
Manitoba: 5%
Saskatchewan: 5.3%
Alberta: 5%
British Columbia: 8.2%
