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Friday, August 5, 2005

Labour Force Survey

July 2005 

Employment was unchanged in July following an increase of 79,000 during the previous three months. Job gains total 110,000 (+0.7%) so far in 2005, slightly less than the 143,000 (+0.9%) over the same period a year ago. The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 6.8% in July, still among the lowest in almost three decades.

Despite little change in employment in July, the number of hours worked rose by 0.6%. Hours worked have increased by 1.3% so far in 2005, with all of the job gains over this period in full-time work (+0.9%).

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Employment unchanged among adults

Although there was little change in July, employment for adult men (aged 25 and over) has increased by 81,000 (+1.1%) so far in 2005, while it is up 53,000 (+0.8%) for adult women. For adult men, the gains have been in full- and part-time work, while among adult women the increase has all been in full-time jobs.

In July, the unemployment rate among adult men increased to 5.7% (+0.2 percentage points) as more entered the labour market to look for work while for adult women the rate edged down 0.1 percentage points to 5.5%.


Note to readers

From May to August, the Labour Force Survey collects labour market information about young people aged 15 to 24 years who were attending school full-time in March and intend to return to school in the fall. The published estimates are not seasonally adjusted, therefore comparisons can only be made on a year-over-year basis.


Youth employment trend down

The number of employed young people aged 15 to 24 was also little changed in July. So far this year, however, youth employment has fallen by 24,000 (-0.9%) with nearly all of the decline in part-time jobs. This is in sharp contrast to the first seven months of 2004 when youth employment grew by 23,000 (+0.9%) with gains in full time. The accommodation and food services sector employs a high proportion of young people and the overall weakness in employment in this industry so far this year is partly responsible for the downward trend in youth employment.

Summer job market for students

Despite encouraging signs in May, the summer job market for students aged 20 to 24 slowed in both June and July. The employment rate for this group of students was 72.9% in July, down almost 4 percentage points from a year earlier when it peaked at 76.8%. Compared to a year ago, the unemployment rate for this group of students is up 0.7 percentage points to 8.3%.

For teenagers aged 17 to 19, the employment rate fell 1.5 percentage points to 63.8% compared to July 2004. The proportion of 17 to 19 year-olds with a summer job in July has fallen for three consecutive summers and is now at the same level as in July 2000.

The only group of students whose summer job market has improved was younger teenagers aged 15 to 16. Compared to a year ago, the employment rate among this group increased by 1.6 percentage points to 37.9%.

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Trade employment continues to rise

The number of people working in retail and wholesale trade rose by 24,000 in July, bringing gains so far this year to 67,000 (+2.7%). This upward employment trend corresponds to strength in consumer spending and increasing sales by wholesalers.

Employment increased by 18,000 in health care and social assistance in July, with gains in offices of doctors, dentists and other health care practitioners as well as in nursing and residential care facilities. This increase was spread across several provinces.

There was also added employment in information, culture and recreation, up 16,000 in July with most of the gain in telecommunications and broadcasting. The overall gain in July offsets a decline of a similar magnitude in June.

Employment rose by 16,000 in agriculture, bringing gains over the first seven months of 2005 to 42,000. Most of the year-over-year increase has been in crop production and mixed farming. Just over half of the increase in July was in Quebec and Ontario.

Weakness in manufacturing persists

Employment in manufacturing continued on its downward trend in July with a decline of 26,000. Job losses were mainly in Quebec and Ontario. Compared to a year ago, employment in this sector is down 106,000 (-4.6%). The July Business Conditions Survey found that manufacturers expect to lower production slightly in the third quarter of 2005 and have also expressed lower employment prospects for the same period.

Employment fell by 21,000 in construction in July, offsetting the gain in June. Most of the decrease was in Ontario. However, compared to July of last year, employment in construction is up 4.0% with strength in British Columbia and Ontario.

Employment also fell in July in professional, scientific and technical services (-21,000), with losses spread across a number of provinces. This decrease leaves employment in the sector slightly above its level at the start of the year.

Provincial focus

Employment edged up in Quebec (+15,000) as an increase of 65,000 part-time jobs more than offset a full-time decline of 50,000. This follows a substantial increase in overall employment in June. Despite recent increases, employment gains since the start of the year are up only slightly (+0.4% or +15,000). The unemployment rate in July increased 0.4 percentage points to 8.4% as there were more people in the labour force looking for work.

Employment rose by 3,000 in Manitoba in July, with all of the gains in part-time jobs. The largest increases were in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing as well as in accommodation and food services. Compared to July of last year, employment in Manitoba is up 8,000 (+1.5%). The unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage points to 4.7% in July.

Employment in Prince Edward Island edged up by 800 in July, pushing the unemployment rate down 0.9 percentage points to 11.0%. Compared to July 2004, employment is up 2.1% (+1,400).

Employment in Ontario edged down 19,000 in July with losses spread across a number of sectors. The manufacturing sector continued to experience weakness in July. Compared to 12 months ago, employment losses in the province's manufacturing sector total 52,000. Despite the overall employment decline in July, there were 60,000 (+1.0%) more people working in Ontario compared to a year ago. The largest increases have been in retail and wholesale trade, educational services, and in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing.

There was little employment change in the other provinces.

Available on CANSIM: tables 282-0001 to 282-0042, 282-0047 to 282-0064, 282-0069 to 282-0096 and 282-0098.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3701.

Available at 7:00 am on Statistics Canada's Web site. From the home page, choose Today's news releases from The Daily, then Latest Labour Force Survey.

A more detailed summary, Labour Force Information, is available today for the week ending July 16 (71-001-XIE, $9/$84).

Data tables are also available in the Canadian Statistics module of our Web site.

The next release of the Labour Force Survey will be on Friday, September 9.

For general information or to order data, contact Client Services (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), Danielle Zietsma (613-951-4243), Labour Statistics Division.

Employment by industry (based on NAICS) and class of worker for both sexes, aged 15 and over
  June 2005 July 2005 June to July 2005 July 2004 to July 2005 June to July 2005 July 2004 to July 2005
  seasonally adjusted
  '000 %
All industries 16,167.3 16,173.2 5.9 193.5 0.0 1.2
Goods-producing sector 4,040.3 4,000.3 -40.0 -15.3 -1.0 -0.4
Agriculture 347.8 363.9 16.1 41.0 4.6 12.7
Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas 310.3 305.3 -5.0 21.8 -1.6 7.7
Utilities 132.1 127.8 -4.3 -11.2 -3.3 -8.1
Construction 1,024.6 1,003.6 -21.0 38.9 -2.0 4.0
Manufacturing 2,225.4 2,199.6 -25.8 -105.9 -1.2 -4.6
Services-producing sector 12,127.0 12,173.0 46.0 208.9 0.4 1.7
Trade 2,567.5 2,591.6 24.1 90.2 0.9 3.6
Transportation and warehousing 790.4 800.8 10.4 -22.3 1.3 -2.7
Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing 994.9 999.1 4.2 46.5 0.4 4.9
Professional, scientific and technical services 1,055.3 1,034.5 -20.8 17.0 -2.0 1.7
Business, building and other support services 654.5 659.6 5.1 24.1 0.8 3.8
Educational services 1,096.9 1,096.7 -0.2 74.4 0.0 7.3
Health care and social assistance 1,718.0 1,735.8 17.8 5.7 1.0 0.3
Information, culture and recreation 714.5 730.6 16.1 0.8 2.3 0.1
Accommodation and food services 995.9 998.5 2.6 -14.6 0.3 -1.4
Other services 695.2 690.4 -4.8 -17.1 -0.7 -2.4
Public administration 844.0 835.3 -8.7 4.1 -1.0 0.5
Class of worker            
Public sector employees 3,122.3 3,123.6 1.3 63.0 0.0 2.1
Private sector 13,045.1 13,049.7 4.6 130.5 0.0 1.0
Private employees 10,540.5 10,553.2 12.7 104.6 0.1 1.0
Self-employed 2,504.6 2,496.5 -8.1 25.9 -0.3 1.0
Note:Related to CANSIM tables 282-0088 and 282-0089.

Employment by type of work, age and sex
  July 2005 June to July 2005 July 2004 to July 2005 July 2005 June to July 2005 July 2004 to July 2005 July 2005 June to July 2005 July 2004 to July 2005
  seasonally adjusted
  Both sexes Men Women
  '000
Employment 16,173.2 5.9 193.5 8,596.6 3.5 101.4 7,576.7 2.5 92.2
Full-time 13,210.9 -2.5 215.6 7,672.0 7.3 95.0 5,538.9 -9.9 120.5
Part-time 2,962.4 8.5 -22.0 924.6 -3.9 6.3 2,037.8 12.4 -28.4
15-24 2,461.3 2.6 -12.9 1,230.2 3.2 -19.4 1,231.1 -0.6 6.5
25 and over 13,712.0 3.4 206.4 7,366.4 0.3 120.8 6,345.6 3.1 85.7
25-54 11,460.2 -18.9 47.6 6,060.7 -14.7 29.9 5,399.5 -4.2 17.7
55 and over 2,251.8 22.3 158.8 1,305.7 15.0 90.9 946.1 7.3 67.9
Note:Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

Labour force characteristics for both sexes, aged 15 and over
  June 2005 July 2005 June to July 2005 June 2005 July 2005 June to July 2005
  seasonally adjusted
  Labour force Participation rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 17,329.4 17,346.8 0.1 67.2 67.2 0.0
Newfoundland and Labrador 250.5 254.1 1.4 58.3 59.2 0.9
Prince Edward Island 76.2 76.4 0.3 68.3 68.4 0.1
Nova Scotia 485.0 479.3 -1.2 63.8 63.0 -0.8
New Brunswick 386.0 386.9 0.2 63.3 63.4 0.1
Quebec 4,024.5 4,057.4 0.8 65.1 65.6 0.5
Ontario 6,879.7 6,852.4 -0.4 68.4 68.0 -0.4
Manitoba 607.6 609.9 0.4 68.4 68.6 0.2
Saskatchewan 510.2 508.7 -0.3 68.2 67.9 -0.3
Alberta 1,852.9 1,856.1 0.2 72.6 72.6 0.0
British Columbia 2,256.7 2,265.6 0.4 65.5 65.7 0.2
  Employment Employment rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 16,167.3 16,173.2 0.0 62.7 62.6 -0.1
Newfoundland and Labrador 215.6 217.6 0.9 50.2 50.7 0.5
Prince Edward Island 67.1 67.9 1.2 60.2 60.8 0.6
Nova Scotia 443.2 441.4 -0.4 58.3 58.0 -0.3
New Brunswick 348.4 349.5 0.3 57.1 57.3 0.2
Quebec 3,703.4 3,718.7 0.4 59.9 60.1 0.2
Ontario 6,416.6 6,397.5 -0.3 63.8 63.5 -0.3
Manitoba 578.3 581.3 0.5 65.1 65.4 0.3
Saskatchewan 485.6 484.9 -0.1 64.9 64.8 -0.1
Alberta 1,782.9 1,789.2 0.4 69.9 70.0 0.1
British Columbia 2,126.2 2,125.2 0.0 61.7 61.6 -0.1
  Unemployment Unemployment rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 1,162.1 1,173.5 1.0 6.7 6.8 0.1
Newfoundland and Labrador 34.9 36.5 4.6 13.9 14.4 0.5
Prince Edward Island 9.1 8.4 -7.7 11.9 11.0 -0.9
Nova Scotia 41.8 37.8 -9.6 8.6 7.9 -0.7
New Brunswick 37.6 37.4 -0.5 9.7 9.7 0.0
Quebec 321.2 338.8 5.5 8.0 8.4 0.4
Ontario 463.1 455.0 -1.7 6.7 6.6 -0.1
Manitoba 29.4 28.6 -2.7 4.8 4.7 -0.1
Saskatchewan 24.5 23.7 -3.3 4.8 4.7 -0.1
Alberta 70.0 66.9 -4.4 3.8 3.6 -0.2
British Columbia 130.5 140.4 7.6 5.8 6.2 0.4
Note:Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

Labour force characteristics for both sexes, aged 15 and over
  July 2004 July 2005 July 2004 to July 2005 July 2004 July 2005 July 2004 to July 2005
  unadjusted
  Labour force Participation rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 17,618.0 17,758.8 0.8 69.2 68.8 -0.4
Newfoundland and Labrador 280.4 275.8 -1.6 65.3 64.2 -1.1
Prince Edward Island 79.7 81.3 2.0 71.8 72.8 1.0
Nova Scotia 504.6 496.2 -1.7 66.6 65.2 -1.4
New Brunswick 408.0 405.7 -0.6 67.1 66.5 -0.6
Quebec 4,133.2 4,171.5 0.9 67.6 67.4 -0.2
Ontario 6,946.2 6,997.4 0.7 70.1 69.4 -0.7
Manitoba 613.7 617.4 0.6 69.6 69.4 -0.2
Saskatchewan 517.9 522.1 0.8 69.4 69.7 0.3
Alberta 1,867.9 1,886.5 1.0 74.5 73.8 -0.7
British Columbia 2,266.4 2,304.9 1.7 66.8 66.8 0.0
  Employment Employment rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 16,342.7 16,528.7 1.1 64.2 64.0 -0.2
Newfoundland and Labrador 245.6 242.5 -1.3 57.2 56.5 -0.7
Prince Edward Island 72.4 73.9 2.1 65.2 66.2 1.0
Nova Scotia 462.9 458.3 -1.0 61.1 60.3 -0.8
New Brunswick 369.9 368.1 -0.5 60.9 60.3 -0.6
Quebec 3,803.6 3,837.0 0.9 62.2 62.0 -0.2
Ontario 6,436.0 6,486.3 0.8 64.9 64.4 -0.5
Manitoba 578.9 588.6 1.7 65.6 66.2 0.6
Saskatchewan 490.1 496.8 1.4 65.7 66.4 0.7
Alberta 1,779.6 1,817.2 2.1 71.0 71.1 0.1
British Columbia 2,103.7 2,160.1 2.7 62.0 62.6 0.6
  Unemployment Unemployment rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 1,275.3 1,230.2 -3.5 7.2 6.9 -0.3
Newfoundland and Labrador 34.8 33.4 -4.0 12.4 12.1 -0.3
Prince Edward Island 7.3 7.4 1.4 9.2 9.1 -0.1
Nova Scotia 41.7 37.9 -9.1 8.3 7.6 -0.7
New Brunswick 38.1 37.6 -1.3 9.3 9.3 0.0
Quebec 329.6 334.5 1.5 8.0 8.0 0.0
Ontario 510.2 511.1 0.2 7.3 7.3 0.0
Manitoba 34.8 28.7 -17.5 5.7 4.6 -1.1
Saskatchewan 27.8 25.4 -8.6 5.4 4.9 -0.5
Alberta 88.4 69.4 -21.5 4.7 3.7 -1.0
British Columbia 162.7 144.8 -11.0 7.2 6.3 -0.9
Note:Related CANSIM table 282-0087.



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