Stats Canada published its Labour Force Survey for October 2012 on Friday, and while there wasn’t much better news, there wasn’t much worse news either. The employment level was unchanged but unemployment also hovered at the same place as well (at 7.4%).
The employment graph still looks heartening as we climb out of the huge valley of 2009.
Specifically Stats Canada pointed out:
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.
In October, employment grew in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, while it fell in British Columbia and Manitoba. There was little change in the other provinces.
The number of public sector employees increased by 37,000, offset by a decline in private sector employment, which includes both private sector employees and the self-employed. Total gains over the previous 12 months were among both private sector employees (+157,000 or +1.4%) and public sector employees (+74,000 or +2.1%).
Interesting that the public sector continues to expand, given the alleged cut backs in Ontario and at the Federal Government level as well. Maybe those job losses are still to be reflected in the data.
The unemployment looks like a slow roll down the hill, but the drop continues on (even if this month we only really leveled off). I am disheartened to see that the employment rate for youth is down 2.1% with an unemployment rate of 14.7% (given my daughter is back in the unemployment figures again too). It’s good old farts like me keep our cushy jobs, but having a lost generation when it comes to jobs is not a good thing.
The Big Table
On the Stats Canada post there are a bunch of great tables outlining employment data, that you should read, here is just one of the cool tables.
Labour force characteristics by age and sex Seasonally adjusted
| Sept 2012 | October 2012 |
Sept to Oct 2012 |
Oct 2011 to Oct 2012 |
Sept to Oct 2012 |
Oct 2011 to Oct 2012 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| thousands (except rates) | change in thousands (except rates) | % change | ||||
| Both sexes, 15 years and over | ||||||
| Population | 28,388.3 | 28,414.8 | 26.5 | 332.5 | 0.1 | 1.2 |
| Labour force | 18,959.5 | 18,977.5 | 18.0 | 262.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
| Employment | 17,565.7 | 17,567.5 | 1.8 | 229.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 |
| Full-time | 14,255.5 | 14,262.8 | 7.3 | 240.4 | 0.1 | 1.7 |
| Part-time | 3,310.2 | 3,304.7 | -5.5 | -11.3 | -0.2 | -0.3 |
| Unemployment | 1,393.8 | 1,410.0 | 16.2 | 33.0 | 1.2 | 2.4 |
| Participation rate | 66.8 | 66.8 | 0.0 | 0.2 | … | … |
| Unemployment rate | 7.4 | 7.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | … | … |
| Employment rate | 61.9 | 61.8 | -0.1 | 0.1 | … | … |
| Part-time rate | 18.8 | 18.8 | 0.0 | -0.3 | … | … |
| Youths, 15 to 24 years | ||||||
| Population | 4,457.6 | 4,457.1 | -0.5 | -0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Labour force | 2,843.0 | 2,834.5 | -8.5 | -42.6 | -0.3 | -1.5 |
| Employment | 2,417.7 | 2,418.9 | 1.2 | -52.2 | 0.0 | -2.1 |
| Full-time | 1,270.9 | 1,256.0 | -14.9 | -41.4 | -1.2 | -3.2 |
| Part-time | 1,146.8 | 1,162.9 | 16.1 | -10.7 | 1.4 | -0.9 |
| Unemployment | 425.3 | 415.7 | -9.6 | 9.6 | -2.3 | 2.4 |
| Participation rate | 63.8 | 63.6 | -0.2 | -0.9 | … | … |
| Unemployment rate | 15.0 | 14.7 | -0.3 | 0.6 | … | … |
| Employment rate | 54.2 | 54.3 | 0.1 | -1.1 | … | … |
| Part-time rate | 47.4 | 48.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 | … | … |
| Men, 25 years and over | ||||||
| Population | 11,712.6 | 11,726.3 | 13.7 | 166.7 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
| Labour force | 8,548.5 | 8,562.5 | 14.0 | 165.4 | 0.2 | 2.0 |
| Employment | 8,005.8 | 8,001.4 | -4.4 | 134.1 | -0.1 | 1.7 |
| Full-time | 7,398.6 | 7,399.5 | 0.9 | 161.1 | 0.0 | 2.2 |
| Part-time | 607.2 | 601.9 | -5.3 | -27.0 | -0.9 | -4.3 |
| Unemployment | 542.7 | 561.1 | 18.4 | 31.3 | 3.4 | 5.9 |
| Participation rate | 73.0 | 73.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | … | … |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3 | 6.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | … | … |
| Employment rate | 68.4 | 68.2 | -0.2 | 0.1 | … | … |
| Part-time rate | 7.6 | 7.5 | -0.1 | -0.5 | … | … |
| Women, 25 years and over | ||||||
| Population | 12,218.1 | 12,231.4 | 13.3 | 166.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 |
| Labour force | 7,568.0 | 7,580.4 | 12.4 | 139.2 | 0.2 | 1.9 |
| Employment | 7,142.2 | 7,147.2 | 5.0 | 147.1 | 0.1 | 2.1 |
| Full-time | 5,586.0 | 5,607.3 | 21.3 | 120.7 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| Part-time | 1,556.1 | 1,539.9 | -16.2 | 26.4 | -1.0 | 1.7 |
| Unemployment | 425.8 | 433.2 | 7.4 | -7.9 | 1.7 | -1.8 |
| Participation rate | 61.9 | 62.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | … | … |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6 | 5.7 | 0.1 | -0.2 | … | … |
| Employment rate | 58.5 | 58.4 | -0.1 | 0.4 | … | … |
| Part-time rate | 21.8 | 21.5 | -0.3 | -0.1 | … | … |
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.
