Canada Reports Further Jobs Increase As Unemployment Falls In December

Employment rose and unemployment dropped in December, in another solid month for Canada jobs, according to the Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey.

The report, released Friday, showed Canada added 55,000 jobs during the month, while unemployment fell from 6.0 to 5.9 percent.

While employment has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, unemployment remains slightly about the 5.7 percent recorded in February 2020.

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The gains were concentrated in full-time work, where 123,000 jobs were added, offset by a decline of 68,000 part-time jobs.

Men aged 25 to 54 saw significant gains, adding 63,000 jobs to put employment in the demographic 2.5 percent higher than before the pandemic.

Employment for women in the same age-group was unchanged in December, but remains 2.2 percent about the levels seen in February 2020.

What Are The Labour Force Survey Highlights?

Source: Statistics Canada

Provincial Canada Jobs Picture

In Canada’s provinces, monthly gains were seen in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Ontario added nearly 47,000 jobs for an unemployment rate of 6.0 percent, the lowest since before the pandemic.  Since May, employment gains in Canada’s most populous province are at 468,000 jobs, concentrated in wholesale and retail trade and manufacturing.

Employment in Alberta rose by 11,100 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent. The province has an employment rate of 64.2 percent, the highest among all the provinces.

In neighbouring Saskatchewan, 6,000 jobs were added for an unemployment rate of 5.4 percent, again below the pre-pandemic level. Notable increases were seen in professional, scientific and technical services.

Over the course of 2021, Canada’s four most populous provinces have spearheaded the COVID-19 recovery, led by Ontario, which added 413,000 jobs on the year, an increase of 5.7 percent.

Quebec (158,000, 3.8%), Alberta (130,000. 6.0%) and British Columbia (101,000, 3.9%) were all key contributors to the improving national picture.

Unemployment Rates In Canada’s Provinces

Source: Statistics Canada

Canada Jobs Picture By Industry

Canada’s construction industry saw its first employment gains since August, adding 27,000 jobs concentrated in full-time work. Employment in the industry remains 2.7 percent below pre-pandemic levels.

Employment in educational services also rose in December adding 17,000 jobs mainly in Ontario. Employment in the sector is now 6.7 percent above pre-pandemic levels.