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Media Room Search The Daily View or print The Daily in PDF format. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader The Daily archives Latest release from the Labour Force Survey Latest release from the Consumer Price Index Recently released products Latest economic indicators Release dates Get a FREE subscription to The Daily Information about The Daily The Daily
Friday, October 7, 2005

Labour Force Survey

September 2005 

Employment was unchanged in September, leaving total gains during the third quarter at 31,000 (+0.2%). This was lower than the second quarter job growth of 0.5% (+79,000). The unemployment rate remained among the lowest in almost three decades, edging down 0.1 percentage points in September to 6.7%.

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All of the 135,000 (+0.8%) job gains observed so far in 2005 have been in full-time employment and the number of hours worked over the same nine-month period has increased by 0.9%. On average, Canadians worked 33.4 hours per week in September, up nearly one-half hour compared to two years ago when hours worked started its upward trend.

Average hourly wages of employees have risen by 3.8% over the past 12 months, with the sharpest increases in natural resources and in professional, scientific and technical services. In comparison, the year-over-year increase for all goods and services in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket was 2.6% in August.

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More jobs in information, culture and recreation and in educational services

In September, employment rose by 20,000 in information, culture and recreation, and was spread across most provinces. The increase was mainly in amusement, gambling and recreation. Despite this gain, employment in information, culture and recreation remains below the level of 12 months ago.

Employment in educational services rose by 14,000 in September, bringing total gains in the industry to 84,000 (+8.1%) from a year ago. Several provinces experienced job gains in educational services this September. However, the increase was particularly strong in Ontario.

There were 29,000 more people working in "other services" in September, with the largest increase in product repair and maintenance. Despite the increase in September, employment in "other services" is down slightly compared to 12 months ago.

Employment in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing fell by an estimated 29,000 in September, leaving the number of people working in the industry at about the same level as a year ago. The largest declines were in Ontario and British Columbia.

There were declines of 12,000 in September in business, building and other support services, mostly in travel and employment services. Despite this recent decline, employment in the industry remains 4.6% above the level at the end of 2004.

The number of factory jobs edged down in September. Compared to 12 months ago, there were 114,000 (-5.0%) fewer people working in manufacturing.

Self-employment trending up

The number of self-employed rose by 30,000 in September. However, this was offset by declines in the number of private and public sector employees. So far in 2005, self-employment has increased by 80,000 (+3.2%), while there were gains of only 38,000 (+0.4%) private sector employees and 18,000 (+0.6%) public sector workers.

Fewer youths working

Youth employment continued to show weakness in September as the number of 15 to 24 year-olds with jobs edged down 15,000, all in part-time. So far in 2005, youth employment is down 1.0% (-25,000), in contrast to the first nine months of last year when it rose 1.2% (+28,000). In September 2005, the youth unemployment rate increased 0.5 percentage points to 12.7%.

The number of adult women aged 25 and over working full-time rose by 29,000 in September, but this was entirely offset by a decline in part-time employment. For adult men, a slight increase in employment and a drop in the number looking for work caused their unemployment rate to decline by 0.2 percentage points to 5.5%.

So far in 2005, employment among adults has increased by 160,000 (+1.2%) with gains of 101,000 (+1.4%) for adult men and 59,000 (+0.9%) for adult women. The increase over this period has been concentrated in full-time work for both adult men and women.

Ontario's unemployment rate hits a four-year low

In September, employment in Ontario edged up by 17,000, pushing the unemployment rate down 0.2 percentage points to 6.4%, the lowest in four years. In the past 12 months, 101,000 jobs (+1.6%) have been added with the largest gains in educational services and construction. In contrast, the manufacturing sector now employs 42,000 (-3.8%) fewer people compared to September 2004.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, employment rose by 3,000 in September, partly offsetting the decline in August and leaving employment in the province at about the same level as at the start of the year. The job increase in September pushed the unemployment rate down 1.4 percentage points to 15.3%. The employment increase in September was spread across a number of industries in the service sector.

Employment in Quebec was little changed in September following growth of 58,000 over the previous three months. Over the past year, job losses in manufacturing have been more than offset by gains in construction, business, building and other support services as well as educational services.

Although unchanged in September, employment in Alberta has increased by 16,000 (+0.9%) since the start of the year. Employment in natural resources has grown by 12,000 (+10.3%) over the same period with even stronger job growth in professional, scientific and technical services (+20,000 or 16.7%). These gains have been partly offset by losses in accommodation and food services. The unemployment rate, at 4.1% in September, remains the lowest of all provinces.

Employment was also little changed in British Columbia in September. However, the province has experienced the strongest employment growth rate (+2.2%) of any province so far this year. Retail and wholesale trade, educational services, transportation and warehousing as well as construction have all contributed to provincial growth.

In Nova Scotia, employment fell by 6,000, offsetting the increase in August. Job losses in September were mainly in retail and wholesale trade as well as in construction. The unemployment rate rose by 1.2 percentage points in September to 8.4%.

In Saskatchewan, employment fell by 4,000 in September, continuing the weakness observed since the start of the year. The largest declines in September were in retail and wholesale trade, and in manufacturing. These losses were only partly offset by gains in educational services. The unemployment rate rose to 6.0% in September from 5.2% in August.

Employment in the other provinces was little changed in September.

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 a.m. on our 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 September 17 (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, November 4.

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 Danielle Zietsma (613-951-4243) or Jeannine Usalcas (613-951-4720), Labour Statistics Division.

Employment by industry (based on NAICS) and class of worker for both sexes, aged 15 and over
  August 2005 September 2005 August to September 2005 September 2004 to September 2005 August to September 2005 September 2004 to September 2005
  seasonally adjusted
  '000 %
All industries 16,200.7 16,198.4 -2.3 195.0 0.0 1.2
Goods-producing sector 4,024.9 4,010.4 -14.5 15.4 -0.4 0.4
Agriculture 356.2 348.6 -7.6 30.2 -2.1 9.5
Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas 310.3 308.4 -1.9 21.7 -0.6 7.6
Utilities 131.9 128.3 -3.6 -3.2 -2.7 -2.4
Construction 1,035.5 1,041.9 6.4 80.6 0.6 8.4
Manufacturing 2,191.1 2,183.2 -7.9 -113.9 -0.4 -5.0
Services-producing sector 12,175.8 12,188.0 12.2 179.6 0.1 1.5
Trade 2,577.3 2,569.8 -7.5 47.6 -0.3 1.9
Transportation and warehousing 814.6 813.0 -1.6 8.1 -0.2 1.0
Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing 1,000.3 971.2 -29.1 -1.7 -2.9 -0.2
Professional, scientific and technical services 1,046.2 1,049.0 2.8 45.1 0.3 4.5
Business, building and other support services 674.0 662.1 -11.9 25.1 -1.8 3.9
Educational services 1,104.0 1,117.7 13.7 84.1 1.2 8.1
Health care and social assistance 1,735.2 1,739.3 4.1 -10.0 0.2 -0.6
Information, culture and recreation 713.1 733.0 19.9 -8.2 2.8 -1.1
Accommodation and food services 992.8 990.5 -2.3 -10.9 -0.2 -1.1
Other services 675.1 703.8 28.7 -1.8 4.3 -0.3
Public administration 843.2 838.7 -4.5 2.3 -0.5 0.3
Class of worker            
Public sector employees 3,131.3 3,116.7 -14.6 43.4 -0.5 1.4
Private sector 13,069.4 13,081.7 12.3 151.6 0.1 1.2
Private employees 10,566.0 10,548.8 -17.2 72.8 -0.2 0.7
Self-employed 2,503.4 2,532.9 29.5 78.8 1.2 3.2
Note:Related to CANSIM tables 282-0088 and 282-0089.

Employment by type of work, age and sex
  September 2005 August to September 2005 September 2004 to September 2005 September 2005 August to September 2005 September 2004 to September 2005 September 2005 August to September 2005 September 2004 to September 2005
  seasonally adjusted
  Both sexes Men Women
  '000
Employment 16,198.4 -2.3 195.0 8,614.6 9.0 96.9 7,583.8 -11.2 98.2
Full-time 13,265.6 19.2 186.6 7,685.4 -10.7 73.1 5,580.1 29.8 113.5
Part-time 2,932.9 -21.4 8.5 929.2 19.7 23.8 2,003.7 -41.0 -15.3
15-24 2,459.8 -14.5 -20.1 1,227.8 -3.3 -33.9 1,232.0 -11.1 13.8
25 and over 13,738.6 12.2 215.1 7,386.7 12.2 130.7 6,351.8 -0.1 84.3
25-54 11,499.7 24.0 95.0 6,089.0 15.9 61.4 5,410.7 8.0 33.6
55 and over 2,238.8 -11.9 120.0 1,297.8 -3.7 69.4 941.1 -8.1 50.7
Note:Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

Labour force characteristics for both sexes, aged 15 and over
  August 2005 September 2005 August to September 2005 August 2005 September 2005 August to September 2005
  seasonally adjusted
  Labour force Participation rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 17,377.6 17,370.2 0.0 67.2 67.1 -0.1
Newfoundland and Labrador 254.6 254.0 -0.2 59.3 59.2 -0.1
Prince Edward Island 76.2 76.5 0.4 68.2 68.5 0.3
Nova Scotia 481.0 480.9 0.0 63.2 63.2 0.0
New Brunswick 386.2 387.6 0.4 63.2 63.4 0.2
Quebec 4,076.0 4,069.2 -0.2 65.8 65.7 -0.1
Ontario 6,861.8 6,863.1 0.0 68.0 67.9 -0.1
Manitoba 608.7 608.1 -0.1 68.4 68.3 -0.1
Saskatchewan 508.5 508.8 0.1 67.9 67.9 0.0
Alberta 1,859.6 1,859.5 0.0 72.6 72.4 -0.2
British Columbia 2,264.9 2,262.5 -0.1 65.5 65.3 -0.2
  Employment Employment rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 16,200.7 16,198.4 0.0 62.7 62.6 -0.1
Newfoundland and Labrador 212.2 215.1 1.4 49.4 50.1 0.7
Prince Edward Island 67.6 67.9 0.4 60.5 60.8 0.3
Nova Scotia 446.3 440.5 -1.3 58.6 57.8 -0.8
New Brunswick 349.1 347.3 -0.5 57.2 56.8 -0.4
Quebec 3,735.6 3,727.8 -0.2 60.3 60.1 -0.2
Ontario 6,407.1 6,424.4 0.3 63.5 63.5 0.0
Manitoba 580.4 578.9 -0.3 65.2 65.0 -0.2
Saskatchewan 482.2 478.1 -0.9 64.4 63.8 -0.6
Alberta 1,787.2 1,783.9 -0.2 69.8 69.5 -0.3
British Columbia 2,132.9 2,134.5 0.1 61.7 61.7 0.0
  Unemployment Unemployment rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 1,176.9 1,171.8 -0.4 6.8 6.7 -0.1
Newfoundland and Labrador 42.4 38.9 -8.3 16.7 15.3 -1.4
Prince Edward Island 8.6 8.6 0.0 11.3 11.2 -0.1
Nova Scotia 34.8 40.4 16.1 7.2 8.4 1.2
New Brunswick 37.1 40.3 8.6 9.6 10.4 0.8
Quebec 340.4 341.4 0.3 8.4 8.4 0.0
Ontario 454.8 438.7 -3.5 6.6 6.4 -0.2
Manitoba 28.3 29.2 3.2 4.6 4.8 0.2
Saskatchewan 26.3 30.6 16.3 5.2 6.0 0.8
Alberta 72.5 75.7 4.4 3.9 4.1 0.2
British Columbia 132.0 127.9 -3.1 5.8 5.7 -0.1
Note:Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

Labour force characteristics for both sexes, aged 15 and over
  September 2004 September 2005 September 2004 to September 2005 September 2004 September 2005 September 2004 to September 2005
  unadjusted
  Labour force Participation rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 17,176.2 17,345.3 1.0 67.3 67.0 -0.3
Newfoundland and Labrador 255.0 255.7 0.3 59.3 59.6 0.3
Prince Edward Island 76.3 77.2 1.2 68.7 69.1 0.4
Nova Scotia 486.9 482.0 -1.0 64.3 63.3 -1.0
New Brunswick 392.5 390.3 -0.6 64.6 63.9 -0.7
Quebec 4,039.9 4,069.7 0.7 65.9 65.7 -0.2
Ontario 6,732.7 6,836.1 1.5 67.8 67.6 -0.2
Manitoba 612.2 608.7 -0.6 69.3 68.4 -0.9
Saskatchewan 508.1 507.7 -0.1 68.1 67.8 -0.3
Alberta 1,853.1 1,856.7 0.2 73.7 72.3 -1.4
British Columbia 2,219.6 2,261.3 1.9 65.3 65.3 0.0
  Employment Employment rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 16,067.0 16,266.1 1.2 63.0 62.8 -0.2
Newfoundland and Labrador 220.3 222.2 0.9 51.2 51.8 0.6
Prince Edward Island 70.1 70.8 1.0 63.1 63.4 0.3
Nova Scotia 449.3 444.6 -1.0 59.3 58.4 -0.9
New Brunswick 362.0 357.2 -1.3 59.5 58.5 -1.0
Quebec 3,735.7 3,757.0 0.6 61.0 60.6 -0.4
Ontario 6,307.6 6,417.5 1.7 63.5 63.5 0.0
Manitoba 580.4 581.9 0.3 65.7 65.4 -0.3
Saskatchewan 483.0 479.7 -0.7 64.7 64.1 -0.6
Alberta 1,775.8 1,788.4 0.7 70.6 69.6 -1.0
British Columbia 2,082.7 2,146.8 3.1 61.2 62.0 0.8
  Unemployment Unemployment rate
  '000 % change % change
Canada 1,109.2 1,079.3 -2.7 6.5 6.2 -0.3
Newfoundland and Labrador 34.7 33.5 -3.5 13.6 13.1 -0.5
Prince Edward Island 6.2 6.3 1.6 8.1 8.2 0.1
Nova Scotia 37.6 37.4 -0.5 7.7 7.8 0.1
New Brunswick 30.5 33.1 8.5 7.8 8.5 0.7
Quebec 304.2 312.7 2.8 7.5 7.7 0.2
Ontario 425.1 418.6 -1.5 6.3 6.1 -0.2
Manitoba 31.7 26.8 -15.5 5.2 4.4 -0.8
Saskatchewan 25.1 28.0 11.6 4.9 5.5 0.6
Alberta 77.3 68.3 -11.6 4.2 3.7 -0.5
British Columbia 136.8 114.4 -16.4 6.2 5.1 -1.1
Note:Related CANSIM table 282-0087.



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