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February 2010 (Previous release)

Employment rose by 21,000 in February, with large gains in full-time work partly offset by losses in part time. The unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage points to 8.2% in February.

 Employment

Employment has been on an upward trend since July 2009 (+159,000). This contrasts with the sharp drop of 417,000 between the peak in October 2008 and July 2009.

Underlying February's employment change was a notable gain in full-time work (+60,000), which was partially offset by a decline in part time (-39,000). Since the summer of 2009, employment growth has been all in full time.

Men aged 55 and over accounted for all of February's employment gain.

February's increase was among public sector employees (+46,000). Compared with the summer of 2009, the number of public and private sector employees has risen, while self-employment has edged down.

Employment increases in February occurred in accommodation and food services; business, building and other support services; manufacturing; health care and social assistance; and natural resources. These gains were partially offset by losses in retail and wholesale trade; finance, insurance, real estate and leasing; and "other services."

Note to readers

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).

Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted data, which eases comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations.

In February, employment increased in British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, while it declined in Alberta. There was little change in the other provinces.

 Unemployment rate

Employment up among older workers

Continuing on an upward trend sustained throughout the labour market downturn, employment for men aged 55 and over increased by 26,000 in February. This pushed the unemployment rate for this group down 0.6 percentage points to 7.1%.

Employment for women aged 55 and over was little changed in February, and their unemployment rate was 5.7%.

Employment for men and women aged 55 and over has been trending up for a number of years, the result of employment growth combined with more people moving into that age group.

Employment was little changed for core-age workers (those aged 25 to 54) and youths in February. Since July 2009, employment has stabilized among core-age men and youths, whereas it has increased among core-age women.

Continued growth in natural resources

Within the goods sector, employment increased in manufacturing (+17,000) and natural resources (+11,000) in February. Following declines throughout the labour market downturn, natural resources has experienced employment growth since the early fall of 2009, while manufacturing employment has been stable.

In the service sector, the largest employment increases in February occurred in accommodation and food services (+27,000); business, building and other support services (+18,000); as well as in health care and social assistance (+16,000).

Offsetting these gains were employment losses in retail and wholesale trade (-34,000); finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (-22,000); and "other services" (-13,000).

Employment in the service sector in February was 67,000 above its October 2008 level. However, employment in the goods sector remained 326,000 below its October 2008 level, with manufacturing accounting for the bulk of the losses (-206,000).

Slight gains in British Columbia

Building on gains since the summer of 2009, employment edged up by 10,000 in British Columbia in February and the unemployment rate dropped 0.4 percentage points to 7.7%.

Employment rose by 4,200 in Nova Scotia in February, pushing the unemployment rate in the province down 0.5 percentage points to 9.3%.

Employment increased by 4,100 in Saskatchewan in February. This brought the unemployment rate down 0.4 percentage points to 4.3%, the lowest of all provinces.

Following a sizeable gain in January, employment in Ontario was little changed in February and the unemployment rate was 9.1%. Since May 2009, employment in the province has grown by 1.4% (+92,000).

In February, employment in Quebec was also little changed and the unemployment rate was 8.1%. Employment in this province has been on an upward trend since July 2009, growing by 1.3% (+50,000).

Alberta was the only province with a notable employment loss in February (-15,000), pushing the unemployment rate up 0.3 percentage points to 6.9%. February marks the second month of employment declines in the province, bringing employment 0.9% (-19,000) lower than it was a year ago.

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 February 20. From the Key resource module of our website, under Publications, choose All subjects, then Labour. LAN and bulk prices are available on request. The DVD-ROM Labour Force Historical Review, 2009 (71F0004X, $209), is also available. See How to order products.

Data tables are also now available online. From the Subject module of our website, choose Labour.

The next release of the Labour Force Survey will be on April 9.

For more 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 Danielle Zietsma (613-951-4243; danielle.zietsma@statcan.gc.ca) or Jeannine Usalcas (613-951-4720; jeannine.usalcas@statcan.gc.ca), Labour Statistics Division.

Table 1

Labour force characteristics by age and sex
  January 2010 February 2010 January to February 2010 February 2009 to February 2010 January to February 2010 February 2009 to February 2010
  Seasonally adjusted
  thousands change in thousands % change
Both sexes, 15 years and over            
Population 27,522.2 27,555.8 33.6 394.6 0.1 1.5
Labour force 18,456.1 18,464.7 8.6 151.2 0.0 0.8
Employment 16,924.4 16,945.3 20.9 87.7 0.1 0.5
Full-time 13,678.6 13,738.8 60.2 98.3 0.4 0.7
Part-time 3,245.8 3,206.5 -39.3 -10.6 -1.2 -0.3
Unemployment 1,531.7 1,519.4 -12.3 63.4 -0.8 4.4
Participation rate 67.1 67.0 -0.1 -0.4 ... ...
Unemployment rate 8.3 8.2 -0.1 0.2 ... ...
Employment rate 61.5 61.5 0.0 -0.6 ... ...
Part-time rate 19.2 18.9 -0.3 -0.2 ...  ...
Youths, 15 to 24 years            
Population 4,401.2 4,401.5 0.3 14.1 0.0 0.3
Labour force 2,850.7 2,849.6 -1.1 -55.9 0.0 -1.9
Employment 2,421.3 2,417.1 -4.2 -62.2 -0.2 -2.5
Full-time 1,275.9 1,274.7 -1.2 -65.0 -0.1 -4.9
Part-time 1,145.4 1,142.4 -3.0 2.8 -0.3 0.2
Unemployment 429.4 432.5 3.1 6.3 0.7 1.5
Participation rate 64.8 64.7 -0.1 -1.5 ... ...
Unemployment rate 15.1 15.2 0.1 0.5 ... ...
Employment rate 55.0 54.9 -0.1 -1.6 ... ...
Part-time rate 47.3 47.3 0.0 1.3 ...  ...
Men, 25 years and over            
Population 11,309.1 11,325.7 16.6 193.0 0.1 1.7
Labour force 8,242.1 8,248.7 6.6 94.2 0.1 1.2
Employment 7,592.3 7,622.2 29.9 78.9 0.4 1.0
Full-time 7,004.3 7,042.6 38.3 83.0 0.5 1.2
Part-time 588.0 579.6 -8.4 -4.1 -1.4 -0.7
Unemployment 649.8 626.6 -23.2 15.4 -3.6 2.5
Participation rate 72.9 72.8 -0.1 -0.4 ... ...
Unemployment rate 7.9 7.6 -0.3 0.1 ... ...
Employment rate 67.1 67.3 0.2 -0.5 ... ...
Part-time rate 7.7 7.6 -0.1 -0.1 ...  ...
Women, 25 years and over            
Population 11,811.9 11,828.5 16.6 187.4 0.1 1.6
Labour force 7,363.3 7,366.4 3.1 112.8 0.0 1.6
Employment 6,910.8 6,906.1 -4.7 71.1 -0.1 1.0
Full-time 5,398.5 5,421.6 23.1 80.4 0.4 1.5
Part-time 1,512.4 1,484.5 -27.9 -9.3 -1.8 -0.6
Unemployment 452.5 460.3 7.8 41.7 1.7 10.0
Participation rate 62.3 62.3 0.0 0.0 ... ...
Unemployment rate 6.1 6.2 0.1 0.4 ... ...
Employment rate 58.5 58.4 -0.1 -0.3 ... ...
Part-time rate 21.9 21.5 -0.4 -0.4 ...  ...
not applicable
Note(s):
Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

Table 2

Employment by class of worker and industry (based on NAICS)1
  January 2010 February 2010 January to February 2010 February 2009 to February 2010 January to February 2010 February 2009 to February 2010
  Seasonally adjusted
  thousands change in thousands % change
Class of worker            
Employees 14,208.1 14,246.2 38.1 37.0 0.3 0.3
Self-employed 2,716.3 2,699.1 -17.2 50.7 -0.6 1.9
Public/private sector employees            
Public 3,450.5 3,496.1 45.6 116.7 1.3 3.5
Private 10,757.7 10,750.2 -7.5 -79.5 -0.1 -0.7
All industries 16,924.4 16,945.3 20.9 87.7 0.1 0.5
Goods-producing sector 3,693.5 3,711.3 17.8 -101.6 0.5 -2.7
Agriculture 304.9 303.8 -1.1 -20.5 -0.4 -6.3
Natural resources 311.4 322.0 10.6 -8.5 3.4 -2.6
Utilities 144.3 146.8 2.5 0.5 1.7 0.3
Construction 1,186.0 1,174.9 -11.1 17.8 -0.9 1.5
Manufacturing 1,746.9 1,763.8 16.9 -90.8 1.0 -4.9
Services-producing sector 13,230.9 13,234.0 3.1 189.3 0.0 1.5
Trade 2,677.4 2,643.9 -33.5 12.1 -1.3 0.5
Transportation and warehousing 792.3 802.0 9.7 -36.0 1.2 -4.3
Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing 1,127.0 1,105.5 -21.5 8.3 -1.9 0.8
Professional, scientific and technical services 1,219.5 1,220.3 0.8 35.5 0.1 3.0
Business, building and other support services 650.5 668.9 18.4 12.9 2.8 2.0
Educational services 1,228.7 1,229.8 1.1 63.6 0.1 5.5
Health care and social assistance 1,990.0 2,005.8 15.8 59.0 0.8 3.0
Information, culture and recreation 777.5 772.0 -5.5 13.3 -0.7 1.8
Accommodation and food services 1,069.2 1,095.7 26.5 18.2 2.5 1.7
Other services 774.3 761.0 -13.3 2.0 -1.7 0.3
Public administration 924.4 929.0 4.6 0.3 0.5 0.0
North American Industry Classification System.
Note(s):
Related CANSIM tables 282-0088 and 282-0089.

Table 3

Labour force characteristics by province
  January 2010 February 2010 January to February 2010 February 2009 to February 2010 January to February 2010 February 2009 to February 2010
  Seasonally adjusted
  thousands change in thousands % change
Newfoundland and Labrador            
Population 430.8 431.0 0.2 3.1 0.0 0.7
Labour force 256.8 257.3 0.5 3.7 0.2 1.5
Employment 218.6 219.6 1.0 5.2 0.5 2.4
Full-time 187.2 188.8 1.6 4.7 0.9 2.6
Part-time 31.4 30.8 -0.6 0.5 -1.9 1.7
Unemployment 38.2 37.7 -0.5 -1.5 -1.3 -3.8
Participation rate 59.6 59.7 0.1 0.4 ... ...
Unemployment rate 14.9 14.7 -0.2 -0.8 ... ...
Employment rate 50.7 51.0 0.3 0.9 ... ...
Prince Edward Island            
Population 116.4 116.6 0.2 1.3 0.2 1.1
Labour force 79.6 80.3 0.7 1.9 0.9 2.4
Employment 71.7 72.2 0.5 3.5 0.7 5.1
Full-time 57.9 58.6 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.9
Part-time 13.8 13.6 -0.2 3.0 -1.4 28.3
Unemployment 7.9 8.2 0.3 -1.5 3.8 -15.5
Participation rate 68.4 68.9 0.5 0.9 ... ...
Unemployment rate 9.9 10.2 0.3 -2.2 ... ...
Employment rate 61.6 61.9 0.3 2.3 ... ...
Nova Scotia            
Population 774.8 775.0 0.2 3.6 0.0 0.5
Labour force 495.8 497.6 1.8 -3.6 0.4 -0.7
Employment 447.0 451.2 4.2 -4.9 0.9 -1.1
Full-time 360.7 367.3 6.6 -4.7 1.8 -1.3
Part-time 86.3 83.8 -2.5 -0.3 -2.9 -0.4
Unemployment 48.8 46.5 -2.3 1.4 -4.7 3.1
Participation rate 64.0 64.2 0.2 -0.8 ... ...
Unemployment rate 9.8 9.3 -0.5 0.3 ... ...
Employment rate 57.7 58.2 0.5 -0.9 ... ...
New Brunswick            
Population 622.9 623.2 0.3 2.8 0.0 0.5
Labour force 401.7 402.6 0.9 0.6 0.2 0.1
Employment 364.5 365.9 1.4 0.3 0.4 0.1
Full-time 310.4 310.2 -0.2 -0.7 -0.1 -0.2
Part-time 54.1 55.8 1.7 1.1 3.1 2.0
Unemployment 37.2 36.7 -0.5 0.3 -1.3 0.8
Participation rate 64.5 64.6 0.1 -0.2 ... ...
Unemployment rate 9.3 9.1 -0.2 0.0 ... ...
Employment rate 58.5 58.7 0.2 -0.2 ... ...
Quebec            
Population 6478.4 6484.9 6.5 73.7 0.1 1.1
Labour force 4199.8 4212.7 12.9 37.9 0.3 0.9
Employment 3864.6 3873.3 8.7 37.3 0.2 1.0
Full-time 3122.9 3137.5 14.6 36.8 0.5 1.2
Part-time 741.6 735.8 -5.8 0.5 -0.8 0.1
Unemployment 335.3 339.4 4.1 0.5 1.2 0.1
Participation rate 64.8 65.0 0.2 -0.1 ... ...
Unemployment rate 8.0 8.1 0.1 0.0 ... ...
Employment rate 59.7 59.7 0.0 -0.1 ... ...
not applicable
Note(s):
Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

Table 4

Labour force characteristics by province
  January 2010 February 2010 January to February 2010 February 2009 to February 2010 January to February 2010 February 2009 to February 2010
  Seasonally adjusted
  thousands change in thousands % change
Ontario            
Population 10,739.8 10,752.8 13.0 148.2 0.1 1.4
Labour force 7,221.0 7,219.6 -1.4 43.2 0.0 0.6
Employment 6,557.7 6,564.8 7.1 24.1 0.1 0.4
Full-time 5,315.3 5,323.9 8.6 27.5 0.2 0.5
Part-time 1,242.5 1,240.8 -1.7 -3.5 -0.1 -0.3
Unemployment 663.2 654.9 -8.3 19.2 -1.3 3.0
Participation rate 67.2 67.1 -0.1 -0.6 ... ...
Unemployment rate 9.2 9.1 -0.1 0.2 ... ...
Employment rate 61.1 61.1 0.0 -0.6 ... ...
Manitoba            
Population 929.5 930.5 1.0 13.7 0.1 1.5
Labour force 647.6 646.1 -1.5 7.5 -0.2 1.2
Employment 612.4 611.3 -1.1 4.5 -0.2 0.7
Full-time 489.4 494.3 4.9 1.2 1.0 0.2
Part-time 123.1 117.0 -6.1 3.3 -5.0 2.9
Unemployment 35.2 34.8 -0.4 3.0 -1.1 9.4
Participation rate 69.7 69.4 -0.3 -0.3 ... ...
Unemployment rate 5.4 5.4 0.0 0.4 ... ...
Employment rate 65.9 65.7 -0.2 -0.5 ... ...
Saskatchewan            
Population 785.2 786.4 1.2 10.8 0.2 1.4
Labour force 545.4 547.3 1.9 0.0 0.3 0.0
Employment 519.8 523.9 4.1 1.9 0.8 0.4
Full-time 428.6 433.2 4.6 10.3 1.1 2.4
Part-time 91.2 90.7 -0.5 -8.4 -0.5 -8.5
Unemployment 25.6 23.5 -2.1 -1.8 -8.2 -7.1
Participation rate 69.5 69.6 0.1 -1.0 ... ...
Unemployment rate 4.7 4.3 -0.4 -0.3 ... ...
Employment rate 66.2 66.6 0.4 -0.7 ... ...
Alberta            
Population 2,899.5 2,904.1 4.6 68.0 0.2 2.4
Labour force 2,127.2 2,118.8 -8.4 2.9 -0.4 0.1
Employment 1,987.6 1,972.8 -14.8 -18.9 -0.7 -0.9
Full-time 1,638.1 1,623.8 -14.3 -14.8 -0.9 -0.9
Part-time 349.6 349.0 -0.6 -4.1 -0.2 -1.2
Unemployment 139.6 145.9 6.3 21.6 4.5 17.4
Participation rate 73.4 73.0 -0.4 -1.6 ... ...
Unemployment rate 6.6 6.9 0.3 1.0 ... ...
Employment rate 68.5 67.9 -0.6 -2.3 ... ...
British Columbia            
Population 3,745.0 3,751.3 6.3 69.5 0.2 1.9
Labour force 2,481.2 2,482.4 1.2 57.1 0.0 2.4
Employment 2,280.5 2,290.4 9.9 34.8 0.4 1.5
Full-time 1,768.2 1,801.2 33.0 37.5 1.9 2.1
Part-time 512.4 489.2 -23.2 -2.7 -4.5 -0.5
Unemployment 200.7 192.0 -8.7 22.4 -4.3 13.2
Participation rate 66.3 66.2 -0.1 0.3 ... ...
Unemployment rate 8.1 7.7 -0.4 0.7 ... ...
Employment rate 60.9 61.1 0.2 -0.2 ... ...
not applicable
Note(s):
Related CANSIM table 282-0087.