Canada: Labour Force Survey for June

Employment was unchanged in June for the second consecutive month according to figures from Statistics Canada. The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 6.2 percent, still among the lowest in 30 years. Over the past 12 months, employment in Canada has grown by 1.7 percent or 290,000.

Employment continued to grow in professional, scientific and technical services in June (+37,000). From a year ago, employment in the industry has grown by 7.5 percent, an increase of 86,000 workers. The biggest contributors to this year-over-year increase have been computer design services and legal services.

Business, building and other support services had the largest decline in employment in June, down 18,000, bringing employment in this industry to a level similar to that of a year ago.

Construction employment decreased by 16,000 in June, the first significant monthly decline in the industry in two years. Over the last 12 months, however, employment growth in the industry has been strong, up 7.2%.

Employment in health care and social assistance also decreased in June (-17,000). Despite this decline, employment in the industry has grown 2.8 percent from 12 months ago.

Alberta
Alberta saw employment increases of 10,000 in June. These gains pushed the employment rate in the province up to 72.2 percent, a new record high. Employment growth over the past 12 months has been the fastest of the provinces at 3.1 percent, largely driven by gains in professional, scientific and technical services; trade; agriculture; and finance, insurance, real estate and leasing.

Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia also experienced a new record-high employment rate of 59.3 percent, pushed by monthly gains of 6,200. Over the past 12 months, employment in the province has grown by 2.2 percent.

Manitoba
Manitoba was the only other province to report monthly gains in June, with an increase of 4,000. Since June 2007, employment growth in the province has been 1.9 percent.

Ontario
In June, employment declined by 24,000 in Ontario, pushing the unemployment rate up 0.3 percentage points to 6.7 percent. The overall decline in employment was the result of a drop in full-time work (-46,000), which was tempered by gains in part time (+22,000). Since June 2007, part-time work in the province has been on the rise, growing by 10.3 percent. Overall, annual employment growth in Ontario has kept pace with the national average.

Newfoundland and Labrador
Employment declined in Newfoundland and Labrador in June. Over the last 12 months, however, employment grew by 1.8 percent, with strong gains in construction; public administration; as well as transportation and warehousing.

Quebec
In June, the unemployment rate in Quebec decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 7.2 percent, due to a decline in labour force participation. Over the past 12 months, employment in the province has grown by 0.5 percent, well below the national average. Declines in trade and education offset growth in professional, scientific and technical services and construction as well as some other service industries.