'We expect the labour market will recover slowly through to next summer, after that we should see an acceleration in job growth assuming a vaccine is available'
Canada’s employment increased by 83,600 jobs in October, up 0.5 per cent from the previous month after growing by an average of 2.7 per cent per month since May, according to Statistics Canada.
It’s another sign of the resilience of Canada’s recovery, says Cory Renner, senior economist at the Conference Board of Canada.
“With shutdowns enacted in some provinces and cases rising in nearly all, this month’s reading should be embraced with some enthusiasm,” he says.
“However, the enthusiasm should be tempered as employment could weaken in November because COVID-19 cases remain high in many provinces. We expect the labour market will recover slowly through to next summer, after that we should see an acceleration in job growth assuming a vaccine is available and widely distributed.”
Most of the employment increase in October was in full-time work (+69,000), says the governement There was also a significant upswing in among those who worked at least half their usual hours (up 150,000).
StatCan reported an increase of 378,200 (2.1 per cent) in September. However, ADP claimed employment in Canada decreased by 240,800 from August to September.
The unemployment rate was 8.9 per cent in October, little changed from September.
Variation by province, industry
Among provinces for October, British Columbia (up 33,500 or 1.4 per cent) recorded the biggest increase in numbers.
“This jobs report is another positive sign for our economy and the people of British Columbia. However, the numbers, while welcome, do not fully reflect the continuing serious hardship in some sectors of the economy. We know there is much more to do as some businesses are still struggling,” says B.C. Premier John Horgan.
“First and foremost on all of our minds should be our collective efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and once again flatten the curve. That means staying local, only spending time with our ‘safe six’ and following the safety basics at work, at school and at home.”
Also recording gains are Ontario (30,600 or 0.4 per cent), Alberta (23,400 or 1.1 per cent),
Newfoundland and Labrador (5,900 or 2.7 per cent), Prince Edward Island (900 or 1.2 per cent), Nova Scotia (2,800 or 0.6 per cent) and New Brunswick (2,600 or 0.7 per cent).
Meanwhile, Quebec (down 12,900 or 0.3 per cent), Manitoba (down 1,800 or 0.3 per cent) and Saskatchewan (down 1,600 or 0.3 per cent) saw job losses in October.
Among sectors, wholesale and retail trade (up 45,300 or 1.6 per cent) and professional, scientific and technical services (up 41,800 or 2.7 per cent) were the biggest winners. Health care and social assistance (up 17,500 or 0.7 per cent); finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (up 15,000 or 1.2 per cent); natural resources (up 11,800 or 3.9 per cent) and construction (up 8,400 or 0.6 per cent) followed.
Also recording gains are educational services (3,400 or 0.2 per cent), public administration (4,600 or 0.5 per cent), agriculture (1,000 or 0.4 per cent), utilities (700 or 0.5 per cent) and other services (3,500 or 0.5 per cent).
Meanwhile, accommodation and food services (down 48,200 or 4.6 per cent) was the biggest loser. Also losing jobs are information, culture and recreation (down 11,300 or 1.5 per cent); transportation and warehousing (down 4,000 or 0.4 per cent); manufacturing (down 4,300 or -0.2 per cent); and business, building and other support services (down 1,600 or 0.2 per cent).
Other findings:
- Employment among core-aged women (25 to 54 years old) increased for the sixth consecutive month in October (40,000 or 0.7 per cent), with gains focused in full-time work. The unemployment rate for core-aged women declined 0.4 percentage points to 6.6 per cent, the lowest rate among the major demographic groups.
- Employment among core-age men rose by 25,000 (or 0.4 per cent), driven by full-time gains; their unemployment rate was unchanged (7.6 per cent).
- Among youth aged 15 to 24, employment was little changed from September, as gains among young men (up 16,000 or 1.4 per cent) were offset by losses among young women (down 14,000 or 1.2 per cent).
- Employment remained further from full recovery for youth than for all other major age groups, with employment among female (down 11.5 per cent) and male (down 8.9 per cent) youth remaining well below pre-pandemic levels.
