Friday, May 8, 2009
Released at 7:00 a.m. Eastern time
Employment grew by 36,000 in April, the result of an increase in self-employment. Despite this increase, overall employment has fallen by 321,000 since the peak in October 2008. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.0% in April, remaining at its highest level in seven years, with the growth in employment coinciding with an increase in the labour force.
The employment gains in April occurred in information, culture and recreation; business, building and other support services; "other services"; and agriculture. Employment was unchanged in manufacturing and construction.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates are based on a sample, and are therefore subject to sampling variability. Estimates for smaller geographic areas or industries will have more variability. For an explanation of sampling variability of estimates, and how to use standard errors to assess this variability, consult the "Data quality" section of the publication Labour Force Information (71-001-X, free).
Changes in average hourly wages are affected by shifts in the composition of the Canadian labour force. For example, a drop in employment in low-wage occupations or industries will contribute to an increase in the national average hourly wage.
Since last October, the goods-producing sector has declined sharply (-6.3%). By contrast, employment in the services-producing sector, which is traditionally less sensitive to economic slowdowns, has decreased only slightly (-0.5%) over the same period.
All the employment growth observed in April occurred in Quebec (+22,000) and British Columbia (+17,000), while employment declined in Nova Scotia (-4,100) and Newfoundland and Labrador (-2,800). There was little change in the other provinces.
The increase in employment in April was all in full-time work. Overall employment gains for the month were spread between adult men aged 25 and over, and older women aged 55 and over. Since October, employment has declined among men aged 25 to 54 and youths 15 to 24, whereas it has increased among older workers.
In April, the average hourly wage was 4.3% higher compared with the same month a year earlier.
In April, employment gains occurred in information, culture and recreation (+17,000); business, building and other support services (+15,000); "other services" (+14,000); and agriculture (+9,000).
Since last October, overall employment has declined 1.9% as there were losses in a number of industries. The contraction during this period was especially strong in construction (-8.5%), manufacturing (-6.5%) and natural resources (-5.9%).
Self-employment rose by 37,000 in April, while the number of employees in the public and private sectors was little changed. Since October, self-employment has grown by 1.3%, whereas the number of employees has declined by 2.6% in the private sector and 2.0% in the public sector.
Full-time employment increased by 39,000 in April, while part-time employment was little changed. Full-time employment, however, has decreased by 2.5% since October, while part-time employment has increased slightly (+0.8%).
Quebec's employment increase of 22,000 in April was accompanied by a slight rise in the unemployment rate to 8.4%, the result of more people in the labour force. Since last October, employment in Quebec has declined 0.8%, less than the 1.9% drop at the national level.
In British Columbia, employment rose by 17,000 in April. The unemployment rate remained at 7.4%, as there were more people in the labour force. Despite April's gains, employment has declined by 52,000 (-2.2%) since October 2008.
In Nova Scotia, employment declined by 4,100 in April and the unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points to 9.2%. Since October, employment in the province has fallen by 8,200 (-1.8%).
In April, employment held steady in Ontario and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.7%, its highest rate since April 1997. Since last October, employment losses in the province totalled 174,000 (-2.6%), more than half of Canada's overall decline.
Employment in Alberta also remained unchanged in April, leaving the decline in employment since October at 42,000 (-2.1%).
Manitoba and Saskatchewan are the only provinces where employment has been little changed since October. In April, these two provinces posted the lowest unemployment rates in Canada, at 4.6% in Manitoba and 5.0% in Saskatchewan.
In April, the increase in employment was spread between adult men aged 25 and over (+25,000) and older women aged 55 and over (+12,000). Since last October, employment has declined for men aged 25 to 54 (-2.9%) and youths aged 15 to 24 (-4.7%), whereas it has increased for older workers (+0.9%).
The unemployment rate for youths declined 0.6 percentage points in April compared with March, the result of a decrease in the participation of youths in the labour force. However, at 14.2%, their unemployment rate continued to be the highest of all age groups.
Available on CANSIM: tables 282-0001 to 282-0042, 282-0047 to 282-0064 and 282-0069 to 282-0100.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3701.
A more detailed summary, Labour Force Information (71-001-X, free), is now available online for the week ending April 18. From the Publications module of our website, under All subjects, choose Labour. LAN and bulk prices are available on request. The CD-ROM Labour Force Historical Review, 2008 (71F0004X, $209), is now available. See How to order products.
Data tables are also now available online. From the By subject module of our website, choose Labour.
The next release of the Labour Force Survey will be on June 5.
For general information or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-873-8788; 613-951-4090; labour@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact, Vincent Ferrao (613-951-4750; vincent.ferrao@statcan.gc.ca), or Jeannine Usalcas (613-951-4720; jeannine.usalcas@statcan.gc.ca), Labour Statistics Division.
March 2009 | April 2009 | March to April 2009 | April 2008 to April 2009 | March to April 2009 | April 2008 to April 2009 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasonally adjusted | ||||||
thousands | change in thousands | % change | ||||
Both sexes 15+ | ||||||
Population | 27,187.6 | 27,217.6 | 30.0 | 378.4 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
Labour force | 18,294.7 | 18,338.6 | 43.9 | 111.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
Employment | 16,838.1 | 16,874.0 | 35.9 | -250.9 | 0.2 | -1.5 |
Full-time | 13,617.4 | 13,656.8 | 39.4 | -351.9 | 0.3 | -2.5 |
Part-time | 3,220.7 | 3,217.1 | -3.6 | 101.0 | -0.1 | 3.2 |
Unemployment | 1,456.6 | 1,464.6 | 8.0 | 362.2 | 0.5 | 32.9 |
Participation rate | 67.3 | 67.4 | 0.1 | -0.5 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 8.0 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 61.9 | 62.0 | 0.1 | -1.8 | ... | ... |
Part-time rate | 19.1 | 19.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 | ... | ... |
Youths 15 to 24 | ||||||
Population | 4,388.8 | 4,390.1 | 1.3 | 18.8 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
Labour force | 2,909.0 | 2,888.9 | -20.1 | -84.6 | -0.7 | -2.8 |
Employment | 2,478.3 | 2,479.0 | 0.7 | -146.2 | 0.0 | -5.6 |
Full-time | 1,337.1 | 1,335.2 | -1.9 | -124.4 | -0.1 | -8.5 |
Part-time | 1,141.2 | 1,143.9 | 2.7 | -21.7 | 0.2 | -1.9 |
Unemployment | 430.6 | 409.8 | -20.8 | 61.5 | -4.8 | 17.7 |
Participation rate | 66.3 | 65.8 | -0.5 | -2.2 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 14.8 | 14.2 | -0.6 | 2.5 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 56.5 | 56.5 | 0.0 | -3.6 | ... | ... |
Part-time rate | 46.0 | 46.1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | ... | ... |
Men 25+ | ||||||
Population | 11,145.1 | 11,159.8 | 14.7 | 181.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 |
Labour force | 8,146.1 | 8,184.9 | 38.8 | 57.8 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
Employment | 7,535.4 | 7,560.6 | 25.2 | -146.9 | 0.3 | -1.9 |
Full-time | 6,957.4 | 6,980.7 | 23.3 | -222.6 | 0.3 | -3.1 |
Part-time | 577.9 | 579.9 | 2.0 | 75.7 | 0.3 | 15.0 |
Unemployment | 610.7 | 624.3 | 13.6 | 204.8 | 2.2 | 48.8 |
Participation rate | 73.1 | 73.3 | 0.2 | -0.7 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 7.5 | 7.6 | 0.1 | 2.4 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 67.6 | 67.7 | 0.1 | -2.5 | ... | ... |
Part-time rate | 7.7 | 7.7 | 0.0 | 1.2 | ... | ... |
Women 25+ | ||||||
Population | 11,653.6 | 11,667.7 | 14.1 | 178.4 | 0.1 | 1.6 |
Labour force | 7,239.6 | 7,264.9 | 25.3 | 138.2 | 0.3 | 1.9 |
Employment | 6,824.4 | 6,834.4 | 10.0 | 42.2 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
Full-time | 5,322.9 | 5,341.0 | 18.1 | -4.9 | 0.3 | -0.1 |
Part-time | 1,501.5 | 1,493.4 | -8.1 | 47.1 | -0.5 | 3.3 |
Unemployment | 415.2 | 430.4 | 15.2 | 95.9 | 3.7 | 28.7 |
Participation rate | 62.1 | 62.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 5.7 | 5.9 | 0.2 | 1.2 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 58.6 | 58.6 | 0.0 | -0.5 | ... | ... |
Part-time rate | 22.0 | 21.9 | -0.1 | 0.6 | ... | ... |
March 2009 | April 2009 | March to April 2009 | April 2008 to April 2009 | March to April 2009 | April 2008 to April 2009 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasonally adjusted | ||||||
thousands | change in thousands | % change | ||||
Class of worker | ||||||
Employees | 14,188.3 | 14,187.2 | -1.1 | -312.6 | 0.0 | -2.2 |
Self-employed | 2,649.8 | 2,686.8 | 37.0 | 61.8 | 1.4 | 2.4 |
Public/private sector employees | ||||||
Public | 3,381.8 | 3,391.1 | 9.3 | -27.5 | 0.3 | -0.8 |
Private | 10,806.5 | 10,796.1 | -10.4 | -285.1 | -0.1 | -2.6 |
All industries | 16,838.1 | 16,874.0 | 35.9 | -250.9 | 0.2 | -1.5 |
Goods-producing sector | 3,782.7 | 3,783.5 | 0.8 | -221.5 | 0.0 | -5.5 |
Agriculture | 319.3 | 328.3 | 9.0 | -3.2 | 2.8 | -1.0 |
Natural resources | 322.9 | 318.8 | -4.1 | -21.9 | -1.3 | -6.4 |
Utilities | 148.7 | 145.4 | -3.3 | -3.6 | -2.2 | -2.4 |
Construction | 1,151.7 | 1,144.2 | -7.5 | -86.5 | -0.7 | -7.0 |
Manufacturing | 1,840.1 | 1,846.8 | 6.7 | -106.3 | 0.4 | -5.4 |
Service-producing sector | 13,055.4 | 13,090.5 | 35.1 | -29.3 | 0.3 | -0.2 |
Trade | 2,629.9 | 2,621.5 | -8.4 | -69.6 | -0.3 | -2.6 |
Transportation and warehousing | 843.1 | 838.8 | -4.3 | -18.6 | -0.5 | -2.2 |
Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing | 1,074.9 | 1,073.4 | -1.5 | -3.7 | -0.1 | -0.3 |
Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,186.0 | 1,191.3 | 5.3 | -6.6 | 0.4 | -0.6 |
Business, building and other support services | 670.4 | 685.0 | 14.6 | -20.9 | 2.2 | -3.0 |
Educational services | 1,173.8 | 1,173.5 | -0.3 | -30.2 | 0.0 | -2.5 |
Health care and social assistance | 1,952.4 | 1,956.2 | 3.8 | 69.6 | 0.2 | 3.7 |
Information, culture and recreation | 747.3 | 764.4 | 17.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 |
Accommodation and food services | 1,068.6 | 1,074.4 | 5.8 | -2.7 | 0.5 | -0.3 |
Other services | 783.6 | 797.6 | 14.0 | 62.0 | 1.8 | 8.4 |
Public administration | 925.4 | 914.5 | -10.9 | -10.7 | -1.2 | -1.2 |
March 2009 | April 2009 | March to April 2009 | April 2008 to April 2009 | March to April 2009 | April 2008 to April 2009 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasonally adjusted | ||||||
thousands | change in thousands | % change | ||||
Newfoundland and Labrador | ||||||
Population | 428.0 | 428.1 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.6 |
Labour force | 254.3 | 251.0 | -3.3 | -5.9 | -1.3 | -2.3 |
Employment | 217.0 | 214.2 | -2.8 | -8.8 | -1.3 | -3.9 |
Full-time | 185.2 | 184.2 | -1.0 | -4.5 | -0.5 | -2.4 |
Part-time | 31.8 | 30.0 | -1.8 | -4.3 | -5.7 | -12.5 |
Unemployment | 37.3 | 36.8 | -0.5 | 3.0 | -1.3 | 8.9 |
Participation rate | 59.4 | 58.6 | -0.8 | -1.8 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 14.7 | 14.7 | 0.0 | 1.5 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 50.7 | 50.0 | -0.7 | -2.4 | ... | ... |
Prince Edward Island | ||||||
Population | 115.4 | 115.5 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 1.3 |
Labour force | 77.6 | 78.2 | 0.6 | -1.1 | 0.8 | -1.4 |
Employment | 68.7 | 68.6 | -0.1 | -1.9 | -0.1 | -2.7 |
Full-time | 58.4 | 57.7 | -0.7 | -1.9 | -1.2 | -3.2 |
Part-time | 10.3 | 10.8 | 0.5 | -0.1 | 4.9 | -0.9 |
Unemployment | 8.9 | 9.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
Participation rate | 67.2 | 67.7 | 0.5 | -1.9 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 11.5 | 12.4 | 0.9 | 1.2 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 59.5 | 59.4 | -0.1 | -2.4 | ... | ... |
Nova Scotia | ||||||
Population | 771.6 | 771.9 | 0.3 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
Labour force | 497.7 | 495.0 | -2.7 | 5.1 | -0.5 | 1.0 |
Employment | 453.4 | 449.3 | -4.1 | -3.0 | -0.9 | -0.7 |
Full-time | 370.4 | 367.5 | -2.9 | -2.3 | -0.8 | -0.6 |
Part-time | 82.9 | 81.8 | -1.1 | -0.6 | -1.3 | -0.7 |
Unemployment | 44.3 | 45.7 | 1.4 | 8.0 | 3.2 | 21.2 |
Participation rate | 64.5 | 64.1 | -0.4 | 0.3 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 8.9 | 9.2 | 0.3 | 1.5 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 58.8 | 58.2 | -0.6 | -0.7 | ... | ... |
New Brunswick | ||||||
Population | 620.5 | 620.9 | 0.4 | 3.9 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
Labour force | 403.1 | 399.9 | -3.2 | 0.0 | -0.8 | 0.0 |
Employment | 364.7 | 364.3 | -0.4 | -1.9 | -0.1 | -0.5 |
Full-time | 306.0 | 306.5 | 0.5 | -1.7 | 0.2 | -0.6 |
Part-time | 58.7 | 57.8 | -0.9 | -0.2 | -1.5 | -0.3 |
Unemployment | 38.4 | 35.6 | -2.8 | 1.9 | -7.3 | 5.6 |
Participation rate | 65.0 | 64.4 | -0.6 | -0.4 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 9.5 | 8.9 | -0.6 | 0.5 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 58.8 | 58.7 | -0.1 | -0.7 | ... | ... |
Quebec | ||||||
Population | 6,416.1 | 6,421.1 | 5.0 | 62.2 | 0.1 | 1.0 |
Labour force | 4,181.7 | 4,210.8 | 29.1 | 29.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
Employment | 3,835.5 | 3,857.9 | 22.4 | -9.8 | 0.6 | -0.3 |
Full-time | 3,110.2 | 3,131.1 | 20.9 | -22.4 | 0.7 | -0.7 |
Part-time | 725.2 | 726.8 | 1.6 | 12.5 | 0.2 | 1.7 |
Unemployment | 346.3 | 352.9 | 6.6 | 39.3 | 1.9 | 12.5 |
Participation rate | 65.2 | 65.6 | 0.4 | -0.2 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 8.3 | 8.4 | 0.1 | 0.9 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 59.8 | 60.1 | 0.3 | -0.7 | ... | ... |
March 2009 | April 2009 | March to April 2009 | April 2008 to April 2009 | March to April 2009 | April 2008 to April 2009 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seasonally adjusted | ||||||
thousands | change in thousands | % change | ||||
Ontario | ||||||
Population | 10,614.3 | 10,625.4 | 11.1 | 151.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
Labour force | 7,168.4 | 7,166.3 | -2.1 | 18.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
Employment | 6,548.1 | 6,545.1 | -3.0 | -151.7 | 0.0 | -2.3 |
Full-time | 5,277.1 | 5,283.2 | 6.1 | -184.5 | 0.1 | -3.4 |
Part-time | 1,271.0 | 1,261.9 | -9.1 | 32.8 | -0.7 | 2.7 |
Unemployment | 620.4 | 621.2 | 0.8 | 169.7 | 0.1 | 37.6 |
Participation rate | 67.5 | 67.4 | -0.1 | -0.8 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 8.7 | 8.7 | 0.0 | 2.4 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 61.7 | 61.6 | -0.1 | -2.3 | ... | ... |
Manitoba | ||||||
Population | 918.0 | 919.3 | 1.3 | 12.0 | 0.1 | 1.3 |
Labour force | 636.0 | 633.3 | -2.7 | -2.2 | -0.4 | -0.3 |
Employment | 603.7 | 604.2 | 0.5 | -6.9 | 0.1 | -1.1 |
Full-time | 495.4 | 497.4 | 2.0 | 6.5 | 0.4 | 1.3 |
Part-time | 108.3 | 106.8 | -1.5 | -13.4 | -1.4 | -11.1 |
Unemployment | 32.3 | 29.1 | -3.2 | 4.7 | -9.9 | 19.3 |
Participation rate | 69.3 | 68.9 | -0.4 | -1.1 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 5.1 | 4.6 | -0.5 | 0.8 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 65.8 | 65.7 | -0.1 | -1.7 | ... | ... |
Saskatchewan | ||||||
Population | 776.3 | 777.1 | 0.8 | 13.4 | 0.1 | 1.8 |
Labour force | 545.4 | 547.4 | 2.0 | 14.7 | 0.4 | 2.8 |
Employment | 519.8 | 520.1 | 0.3 | 10.3 | 0.1 | 2.0 |
Full-time | 421.4 | 421.2 | -0.2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
Part-time | 98.5 | 99.0 | 0.5 | 8.9 | 0.5 | 9.9 |
Unemployment | 25.6 | 27.3 | 1.7 | 4.4 | 6.6 | 19.2 |
Participation rate | 70.3 | 70.4 | 0.1 | 0.6 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 4.7 | 5.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 67.0 | 66.9 | -0.1 | 0.1 | ... | ... |
Alberta | ||||||
Population | 2,841.7 | 2,847.9 | 6.2 | 64.1 | 0.2 | 2.3 |
Labour force | 2,110.1 | 2,119.5 | 9.4 | 43.1 | 0.4 | 2.1 |
Employment | 1,987.2 | 1,992.9 | 5.7 | -14.4 | 0.3 | -0.7 |
Full-time | 1,632.9 | 1,635.6 | 2.7 | -56.5 | 0.2 | -3.3 |
Part-time | 354.3 | 357.3 | 3.0 | 42.2 | 0.8 | 13.4 |
Unemployment | 123.0 | 126.6 | 3.6 | 57.5 | 2.9 | 83.2 |
Participation rate | 74.3 | 74.4 | 0.1 | -0.2 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 5.8 | 6.0 | 0.2 | 2.7 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 69.9 | 70.0 | 0.1 | -2.1 | ... | ... |
British Columbia | ||||||
Population | 3,685.8 | 3,690.4 | 4.6 | 63.5 | 0.1 | 1.8 |
Labour force | 2,420.2 | 2,437.1 | 16.9 | 10.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
Employment | 2,240.1 | 2,257.4 | 17.3 | -62.8 | 0.8 | -2.7 |
Full-time | 1,760.0 | 1,772.2 | 12.2 | -85.8 | 0.7 | -4.6 |
Part-time | 480.1 | 485.1 | 5.0 | 22.9 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
Unemployment | 180.1 | 179.8 | -0.3 | 73.0 | -0.2 | 68.4 |
Participation rate | 65.7 | 66.0 | 0.3 | -0.9 | ... | ... |
Unemployment rate | 7.4 | 7.4 | 0.0 | 3.0 | ... | ... |
Employment rate | 60.8 | 61.2 | 0.4 | -2.8 | ... | ... |