Labour Force Survey

Following two months of small increases, employment was unchanged in May, and the unemployment rate remained at 6.1%. Over the past 12 months, employment in Canada has risen by 339,000 (+2.0%).

Despite slower employment growth in recent months, the participation rate remained at its record high of 68.0% in May.

Women aged 25 and over entered the labour market in large numbers in May. Employment grew by 35,000 for this group, while it was unchanged for men of the same age and declined for all youths. The participation rate for adult women reached an all-time high of 62.4% in May.

Quebec was the only province with notable employment growth in May, while Manitoba and New Brunswick saw declines.

Manufacturing employment rose in May, mainly in Ontario and Quebec. Employment across the country in this industry has trended downward since November 2002, with losses of 344,000 over this period.

Health care and social assistance, as well as "other services" added employment in May, while agriculture and professional, scientific and technical services recorded losses.

Growth in part-time employment in May offset a decrease in full time and contributed to the 0.6% decline in the total number of hours worked. Over the past 12 months, total hours worked has increased by 0.9%, half the pace of overall employment growth.

In May, the average hourly wage was 4.8% higher than a year earlier, and well above the most recent increase of 1.7% in consumer prices. Since September 2007, year-over-year increases in average hourly wages have exceeded 4%.

Employment gains in Quebec

In Quebec, after two consecutive months of declines, employment rose by 18,000 in May. With an increase in the number of Quebecers in the labour market, the unemployment rate was little changed at 7.5%. Employment growth over the last 12 months in the province stands at 1.2%, below the national rate of growth.

Employment in Quebec's manufacturing industry increased in May (+14,000). While manufacturing employment has declined by 124,000 since November 2002, over the past 12 months, this sector has been stable with growth in transportation equipment offsetting losses in textile and clothing manufacturing.

With a slight increase in May, Ontario's employment growth over the past 12 months was 2.2%. Losses in educational services in May were offset by gains in manufacturing. Manufacturing has been on a downward trend since November 2002 (-200,000).

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the employment rate rose to an all-time high of 52.8% in May. Over the past 12 months, employment growth was 2.9% (+6,000), one of the fastest rates of growth in the country.

Following strong gains the month before, employment in Manitoba declined in May, pushing the unemployment rate up to 4.2%, still among the lowest in Canada. Employment in this province has increased by 1.5% in the past 12 months.

In May, employment in New Brunswick declined (-4,400), bringing the unemployment rate up to 8.9%. In 2007, employment followed an upward trend; so far this year, however, growth has slowed.

Although unchanged in May, employment in Alberta has increased 3.3% over the past 12 months, the strongest growth rate in Canada. As a result of increased participation in the labour market, the unemployment rate rose in May to 3.6%, still the lowest in Canada.

Strong employment growth for adult women

In May, employment among adult women rose by 35,000 (+0.5%), mostly in part time. An increase of 52,000 women in the labour market boosted their participation rate to an all-time high of 62.4% in May.

Among youths aged 15 to 24, employment declined by 25,000 in May. The rate of employment growth among youth over the past 12 months (+0.8%), while lower than the rate of overall employment growth (+2.0%), is similar to their population rate of growth.

A fast start for students aged 20 to 24

From May to August, the Labour Force Survey collects labour market information about young people aged 15 to 24 who were attending school full-time in March and who intend to return to school in the fall. The May survey results provide the first indicators of the summer job market, especially for students aged 20 to 24. Many younger students, aged 15 to 19, were not yet out of school for the summer. The data for June, July and August will provide future insight into the summer job market. The published estimates are not seasonally adjusted; therefore comparisons can only be made from one year to another.

The summer job market has just started in May for students aged 20 to 24. Employment among these students grew by 29,000 compared with a year earlier, mainly in part time. A surge in students looking for work pushed their unemployment rate up 3.2 percentage points from its level in May 2007 to 15.4% in May 2008.

Note: 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-XWE, free).

Available on CANSIM: tables 282-0001 to 282-0042, 282-0047 to 282-0064 and 282-0069 to 282-0099.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3701.

A more detailed summary, Labour Force Information (71-001-XWE, free) is now available online for the week ending May 17. From the Publications module of our website, under Free Internet publications, choose Labour. LAN and bulk prices are available on request. The CD-ROM Labour Force Historical Review, 2007 (71F0004XCB, $209) is now available.

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 July 11.

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 Jason Gilmore (613-951-7118; jason.gilmore@statcan.gc.ca), or Vincent Ferrao (613-951-4750; vincent.ferrao@statcan.gc.ca), Labour Statistics Division.

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