Canada Employment increased by 35,000 in October, and the unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 6.3%.
Employment increased by 35,000 in October, and the unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 6.3%. Employment gains in the month were driven by full-time work (+89,000), while fewer people worked part time (-53,000).
On a year-over-year basis, total employment rose by 308,000 (+1.7%), with full-time work increasing by 397,000 (+2.7%) and the number of people working part time declining by 89,000 (-2.5%). On a year-over-year basis, total hours worked were up 2.7%.
The unemployment rate trended downwards in the 12 months to October, falling 0.7 percentage points over this period.
Provincial overview
Quebec +18,000 unemployment rate 6.1%
Alberta +12,000 unemployment rate 7.8%
Manitoba +4,000 unemployment rate 5.2%
Newfoundland and Labrador +3,400 unemployment rate 14.5%
New Brunswick +2,300 unemployment rate 7.8%.
Saskatchewan by 4,000 unemployment rate 5.9%.
Ontario,employment was virtually unchanged unemployment rate 5.9%
British Columbia was also little changed unemployment rate 4.9%.
Industry perspective
Employment was up by 21,000 in the “other services” industry in October. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in this industry was little changed. “Other services” include services such as those related to civic and professional organizations, and personal and laundry services.
In construction, employment rose by 18,000 in October. Compared with October 2016, employment in construction was virtually unchanged.
There were 15,000 more people working in information, culture and recreation industries in October. On a year-over-year basis, employment in this industry was little changed.
In October, employment in agriculture increased by 6,100, reaching a level similar to that observed in October 2016.
Employment in professional, scientific and technical services was little changed in the month, but this industry was the fastest growing on a year-over-year basis, up 85,000 or 6.1%. Much of the year-over-year increase was in computer system design services.
Manufacturing employment edged up in October (+7,800) and was up by 51,000 (+3.0%) on a year-over-year basis. Employment in this industry has been on an upward trend since the start of 2017. The increase in the 12 months to October was mostly attributable to subsectors such as electrical equipment, appliance and component manufacturing.
Employment was down by 36,000 in trade, mostly in wholesale. On a year-over-year basis, employment in this industry was up by 47,000 (+1.7%).
The number of private sector employees rose by 39,000 in October, while public sector employment was little changed. Compared with 12 months earlier, the number of private sector employees increased by 165,000 (+1.4%) and public sector employment rose by 83,000 (+2.3%).
Self-employment was little changed in October, but was up by 60,000 (+2.1%) on a year-over-year basis.
Source: StatsCan Labour Force Survey (LFS)