Canada continues to add jobs, but also seems to be adding more folks looking for jobs as well in April according to Stats Canada. Another month where Canada has added more jobs (Full-time jobs, which is great), however, thanks to more folks out there looking unemployment is up as well.
Employment increased by 58,000 in April, mostly in full-time work. This was the second consecutive month of notable gains after four months of little change. With more people searching for work, the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 7.3%.
Compared with 12 months earlier, employment was up 1.2% or 214,000. All of the growth over the 12 months was in full-time work, up 217,000 (+1.6%), while part-time employment was unchanged. The total number of hours worked rose 1.5% over the same period.
This is very promising news for Canadians (for those who claim I am a doom-and-gloom kind of guy).
This graph makes me happier, let us hope that the good numbers continue for the Economy.
Here is the confusing group, that shows that unemployment is going up, even with more folks being employed:
It’s slowly rolling down, but still worrying.
An interesting comparison with our friends down south was also brought forward:
The number of employed as a percentage of the working-age population in Canada, that is the employment rate €”when adjusted to U.S. concepts €”was markedly lower than that of the United States from the early 1990s until 2002. Since 2002, the adjusted employment rate in Canada has been higher, with the gap between the two countries widening since late 2006.
Better employment numbers in Canada? Good thing to hear.
The Big Table
Stats Canada also has lots more data with their monthly numbers and I like to include at least one of their tables:
Table 1 Labour force characteristics by age and sex Seasonally adjusted
| March 2012 | April 2012 | March to April 2012 |
April 2011 to April 2012 |
March to April 2012 |
April 2011 to April 2012 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| thousands (except rates) | change in thousands (except rates) | % change | ||||
| Both sexes, 15 years and over | ||||||
| Population | 28,208.1 | 28,242.0 | 33.9 | 327.2 | 0.1 | 1.2 |
| Labour force | 18,792.8 | 18,865.3 | 72.5 | 166.2 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| Employment | 17,436.5 | 17,494.7 | 58.2 | 213.8 | 0.3 | 1.2 |
| Full-time | 14,128.0 | 14,171.9 | 43.9 | 217.3 | 0.3 | 1.6 |
| Part-time | 3,308.5 | 3,322.8 | 14.3 | -3.4 | 0.4 | -0.1 |
| Unemployment | 1,356.2 | 1,370.6 | 14.4 | -47.6 | 1.1 | -3.4 |
| Participation rate | 66.6 | 66.8 | 0.2 | -0.2 | … | … |
| Unemployment rate | 7.2 | 7.3 | 0.1 | -0.3 | … | … |
| Employment rate | 61.8 | 61.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | … | … |
| Part-time rate | 19.0 | 19.0 | 0.0 | -0.2 | … | … |
| Youths, 15 to 24 years | ||||||
| Population | 4,456.7 | 4,457.2 | 0.5 | -1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Labour force | 2,843.3 | 2,842.2 | -1.1 | -33.2 | 0.0 | -1.2 |
| Employment | 2,448.3 | 2,448.0 | -0.3 | -17.2 | 0.0 | -0.7 |
| Full-time | 1,302.0 | 1,291.7 | -10.3 | 0.8 | -0.8 | 0.1 |
| Part-time | 1,146.3 | 1,156.4 | 10.1 | -17.9 | 0.9 | -1.5 |
| Unemployment | 395.0 | 394.2 | -0.8 | -16.0 | -0.2 | -3.9 |
| Participation rate | 63.8 | 63.8 | 0.0 | -0.7 | … | … |
| Unemployment rate | 13.9 | 13.9 | 0.0 | -0.4 | … | … |
| Employment rate | 54.9 | 54.9 | 0.0 | -0.4 | … | … |
| Part-time rate | 46.8 | 47.2 | 0.4 | -0.4 | … | … |
| Men, 25 years and over | ||||||
| Population | 11,622.2 | 11,639.1 | 16.9 | 163.7 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
| Labour force | 8,460.2 | 8,495.0 | 34.8 | 111.2 | 0.4 | 1.3 |
| Employment | 7,927.9 | 7,954.6 | 26.7 | 120.4 | 0.3 | 1.5 |
| Full-time | 7,305.2 | 7,343.1 | 37.9 | 135.2 | 0.5 | 1.9 |
| Part-time | 622.6 | 611.5 | -11.1 | -14.8 | -1.8 | -2.4 |
| Unemployment | 532.3 | 540.3 | 8.0 | -9.4 | 1.5 | -1.7 |
| Participation rate | 72.8 | 73.0 | 0.2 | -0.1 | … | … |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3 | 6.4 | 0.1 | -0.2 | … | … |
| Employment rate | 68.2 | 68.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | … | … |
| Part-time rate | 7.9 | 7.7 | -0.2 | -0.3 | … | … |
| Women, 25 years and over | ||||||
| Population | 12,129.2 | 12,145.7 | 16.5 | 164.8 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
| Labour force | 7,489.3 | 7,528.1 | 38.8 | 88.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
| Employment | 7,060.4 | 7,092.0 | 31.6 | 110.5 | 0.4 | 1.6 |
| Full-time | 5,520.8 | 5,537.1 | 16.3 | 81.2 | 0.3 | 1.5 |
| Part-time | 1,539.6 | 1,554.9 | 15.3 | 29.3 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
| Unemployment | 428.9 | 436.1 | 7.2 | -22.2 | 1.7 | -4.8 |
| Participation rate | 61.7 | 62.0 | 0.3 | -0.1 | … | … |
| Unemployment rate | 5.7 | 5.8 | 0.1 | -0.4 | … | … |
| Employment rate | 58.2 | 58.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | … | … |
| Part-time rate | 21.8 | 21.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | … | … |
Employment Numbers 2012
- Employment Hovers in January 2012 in Canada. Both full-time and part-time employment were essentially unchanged in January. Compared with 12 months earlier, full-time workers rose 1.2% (+170,000), while part-time workers fell 1.2% (-41,000). At the same time, total hours worked grew 1.4%, with all of the increase in the first half of the period.
- Unemployment Drops a Little in February 2012. Employment declined in retail and wholesale trade; transportation and warehousing; health care and social assistance; and public administration. These declines were offset by increases in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing; educational services; and business, building and other support services.
- Easter Bunny Bounces Jobs Into March 2012 in Canada. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment rose 1.1%, or 197,000. Almost all of this growth was in full-time employment, up 181,000 (+1.3%), while part-time employment edged up. Total hours worked rose 1.6% over the same period.
- More Working and Higher Unemployment in April (2012)! Compared with 12 months earlier, employment was up 1.2% or 214,000. All of the growth over the 12 months was in full-time work, up 217,000 (+1.6%), while part-time employment was unchanged. Total hours worked rose 1.5% over the same period.
- Employment for May 2012 About the Same? Compared with 12 months earlier, employment increased 1.2% or 203,000. Virtually all of this growth was in full-time work, up 192,000 (+1.4%). Total hours worked rose 1.3% over the same period.
- Leaking Part-time Jobs in July 2012 in Canada is not a good thing over the summer
- More Jobs in August in Canada? Hot Dang! Good news is always good.
- Employment Boost in September in Canada continued; good news
- No More Jobs in October 2012, but No Less. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment increased 1.3% or 229,000, all in full-time work. The total number of hours worked also rose 1.3% over the same period.
- Yes! More Jobs in Canada in November 2012. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment increased 1.7% or 294,000, mostly in full-time work. Over the same period, total hours worked rose 1.3%.
- More Jobs in Canada in December 2012. Employment rose by 40,000 in December, the fourth increase in five months. December’s increase was all in full-time work. The unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage points to 7.1%, the lowest in four years.
