Canada: November Labour Force Survey

Canadian employment rose by an estimated 43,000 in November, pushing the employment rate to another record high (63.8%). So far this year, employment has increased 2.3% (+388,000), stronger than the 1.8% increase seen over the same period in 2006. As more people entered the labour force in November, the unemployment rate moved up 0.1 of a percentage point to 5.9%.

Following three months of strong increases in the public sector, November’s employment gains were mostly in the private sector. However, employment growth in the public sector has continued to outpace that of the private sector for the past 12 months.

Four industries recorded employment increases in November: transportation and warehousing; business, building and other support services; educational services; and natural resources. Gains were concentrated among men aged 25 to 54 years.

Growth in average hourly wages remained strong in November, with a year-over-year increase estimated at 4.2%, well above the most recent increase in the Consumer Price Index (+2.4%).

According to the most recent international data available, Canada’s employment rate was higher than that of the United States and most European countries in the second quarter of 2007. Among European countries, only Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden had higher rates of employment.

British Columbia
Following several months of slow growth, British Columbia added an estimated 26,000 workers to its workforce in November, all in full time, pushing its employment rate to a record high of 63.9%. Almost half of this increase was in construction. Since the start of the year, employment has risen 80,000 (+3.6%) in the province, led by trade; construction; information, culture and recreation; and transportation and warehousing.

Quebec
Despite manufacturing declines, employment in Quebec increased 19,000 in November, all in part time, with gains spread across the service sector. So far in 2007, Quebec’s employment rate has been trending up, reaching a new record high of 61.4% in November.

New Brunswick
Employment in New Brunswick rose by 5,000 in November. So far in 2007, employment has increased 4.2%, the fastest pace of growth among all provinces, with gains mostly in full time. This province also experienced a large increase in its employment rate reaching a record high of 60.0% in November.

Saskatchewan
Following losses earlier in the year, Saskatchewan experienced employment gains for the third consecutive month, up by 5,000 in November. Despite these recent gains, employment was up only 0.9% in the first 11 months of 2007. Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate in November remained one of the lowest in the country at 4.0%, behind only Alberta’s (3.6%).

OntarioFollowing two months of strong growth, employment in Ontario was little changed in November. As more people entered the labour force, Ontario’s unemployment rate increased to 6.2% in November.

Alberta
Alberta’s employment remained unchanged for the third consecutive month, leaving total growth so far in 2007 at 3.2% (+62,000). This is significantly slower than the pace of growth observed over the same period in 2006 (+5.8%).