Report shows Canada employment held steady in April

Estimates from Statistics Canada's Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed little overall change in employment for that country in April. This follows strong employment gains since September 2006. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate remained at an historic 33-year low of 6.1 percent in April.

When adjusted for comparability to United States definitions, employment growth for the first four months of the year was stronger in Canada compared to the United States.

While employment growth in the service sector paused in April, it has added an estimated 182,000 workers (+1.4 percent) since the start of the year.

In April, natural resource industries saw a large influx of workers. However, this was not enough to offset losses in manufacturing. Overall employment in the goods-producing sector has fallen 0.7 percent so far this year.

After a two-month stall, employment growth in Alberta resumed in April, mainly in the service sector.

The Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick all set new record employment rates in April.

Quebec saw more of its working-age population employed in April. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level (7.2 percent) in over three decades.

On the other hand, Ontario suffered employment losses in manufacturing in April, continuing the weakness in this sector. Overall employment in British Columbia declined in April following strong first-quarter gains.

Continuing the upward trend, employment increased for adult women in April, bringing them to their highest employment rate and lowest unemployment rate in over 30 years.

So far this year, workers 55 years and older experienced a faster pace of growth compared with core-aged workers (25 to 54). In fact, despite their lower labour force participation rates, half of the overall employment growth this year has come from older workers.

Service sector pauses

Employment growth in the service sector was halted in April by losses in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (-17,000) as well as in "other services" (-17,000). Trade maintained momentum in April, with the addition of 20,000 workers, mainly in wholesale trade.

The service sector added an estimated 406,000 workers (+3.3 percent) over the past 12 months, in contrast to the goods sector, which saw a loss of 31,000 (-0.8 percent) over the same period.

On the goods-producing side, even though natural resources had an estimated increase of 11,000 in April, it was not enough to offset the losses in manufacturing (-19,000).

Quebec unemployment rate tumbles

In Quebec, the unemployment rate dropped to a 33-year low of 7.2 percent in April, while the employment rate reached a record high (60.9 percent) with 108,000 more workers compared to a year ago. Trade and construction employment boosted growth in April while manufacturing edged down.

Alberta's economy added an estimated 12,000 workers in April, bringing the unemployment rate down to 3.4 percent and the employment rate back to its all-time high of 71.6 percent. Employment strength in retail and wholesale trade bolstered the services sector and made up for the lacklustre growth in the goods-producing industries. Over the past 12 months, Alberta's employment growth was more than double the national average (5.6 percent vs. 2.3 percent).

Large full-time losses (-38,000) in Ontario in April, were partially offset by increases in part time. Declines were primarily in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing, "other services" and manufacturing. Ontario's manufacturing sector shed 13,000 workers in April, continuing the downward trend of the past two years. Manufacturing losses in April were mainly in transportation equipment and food. At the same time, natural resource employment increased by 5,000, mainly in forestry and mining.

Employment in British Columbia declined by an estimated 16,000 in April, all in part time. The unemployment rate increased to 4.4 percent with fewer workers in health care and social assistance as well as in accommodation and food services. Following on the heels of strong first-quarter growth, employment remains up 2.6 percent compared to the previous year.

In April, the Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador (51.7 percent), Prince Edward Island (62.4 percent) and New Brunswick (59.2 percent) all reached their highest employment rates in over 30 years.

Women continue to set labor market records

With an estimated employment increase of 13,000, the employment rate among adult women (25 and over) reached a record high of 59.1 percent in April. They also attained their lowest unemployment rate to date (4.7 percent). In particular, women 55 years and older saw the largest employment increase in April and were the driving force behind employment gains among adult women for the month.

Meanwhile, youths and adult men both saw employment declines for the month. Over the past 12 months, women's employment growth (+3.4 percent) was more than double the pace of men (+1.4 percent).

Older workers drive employment growth

Overall employment growth for core-aged adults 25 to 54 pales in comparison to older workers 55 and over. While labour force participation among older workers is generally lower than that of core-age workers, employment grew 7.9 percent over the past 12 months for this group, vs. 1.2 percent for core-aged workers. From a year ago, employment gains for women 55 years and older were higher than for men, 9.7 percent vs. 6.5 percent.