January 6, 2017 – Canada saw its largest jobs gain for more than six years in the fourth quarter of 2016, with 108,000 more people in work heading into the new year. A larger jobs gain has not been seen since the second quarter of 2010.
The 0.6 per cent quarterly increase built on a gain of 62,000, or 0.3 per cent, in the previous quarter, as Canada continues to edge forwards in terms of employment.
Looking at the monthly statistics, the 54,000 jobs gained in December were mainly in full-time employment, although an increase in labour market participation meant the unemployment rate actually increased slightly to 6.9 per cent.
Canada’s Jobs Snapshot
End November | End December | |
Unemployment rate (%) | 6.8 | 6.9 |
Employment rate (%) | 61.2 | 61.3 |
Labour force participation rate (%) | 65.6 | 65.8 |
Number unemployed | 1,326,900 | 1,341,600 |
Number working | 18,171,300 | 18,225,000 |
Youth (15-24) unemployment rate (%) | 12.9 | 12.6 |
Men (over 25) unemployment rate (%) | 6.4 | 6.4 |
Women (over 25) unemployment rate (%) | 5.1 | 5.4 |
Source: Statistics Canada
Over the course of 2016, 214,000 more Canadians found work, an increase of 1.2 per cent.
Provincially, British Columbia’s unemployment rate dipped back under 6 per cent following a jobs increase of 17,000. Quebec also added more than 20,000 jobs, but saw unemployment rise to 6.6 per cent as more people looked for work in the French-speaking province.
Demographic Outlook
Women aged 25 to 54 saw an employment increase of 31,000 in December, although the unemployment rate again increased to 5.4 per cent due to more people in the demographic searching for work.
Men in the same age-group saw little change in employment, and little change in the 6.2 per cent unemployment rate.
Youngsters aged 15 to 24, meanwhile, saw a drop in unemployment from 12.9 per cent to 12.6 per cent.
Industry Outlook
Professional, scientific and technical services saw an employment increase of 28,000 in December, with health care and social assistance also recording a rise, of 14,000 jobs. A decline of 7,000 was seen in agriculture.
Both the private (44,000) and public sector (29,000) recorded rises, while self-employment saw negligible change.
Provincial Outlook
British Columbia maintain its number one spot for the lowest unemployment among Canada’s provinces heading into 2017, at 5.8 per cent.
Jobs Data in the Provinces
Jobs change December | Unemployment rate (%) | |
1) British Columbia | 17,000 | 5.8 |
2) Manitoba | 1,200 | 6.3 |
3) Ontario | 9,100 | 6.4 |
4) Saskatchewan | -1,100 | 6.5 |
5) Quebec | 20,400 | 6.6 |
6) Nova Scotia | 500 | 8.3 |
7) Alberta | 6,900 | 8.5 |
8) New Brunswick | 900 | 9.4 |
9) Prince Edward Island | 600 | 10.7 |
10) Newfoundland & Labrador | -1,600 | 14.9 |
CANADA | 53,700 | 6.9 |
Source: Statistics Canada
Eight out of 10 Canadian provinces added jobs in December, with Quebec gaining the most in real numbers at 20,400, but still recording a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment.
Ontario added 9,100 jobs for an unemployment rate of 6.4 per cent, while Alberta’s 6,900 jobs added resulted in an unemployment rate of 8.5 per cent, putting the oil giant’s recovery back on track.
Smaller jobs increases were seen in Manitoba (1,200), New Brunswick (900), Prince Edward Island (600) and Nova Scotia (500).
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