Friday, December 1, 2006

Labour Force Survey

Employment edged up an estimated 22,000 in November, the result of gains in part-time work. The unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 6.3%, as more people entered the labour market in search of work. Following a pause over the summer months, employment has risen by 89,000 since August. So far this year, employment has grown by 1.7%.

The number of private sector employees jumped by an estimated 50,000 in November. So far in 2006, the number of employees in the private sector is up 3.1%, nearly four times the rate of growth in the public sector.

Employment in Alberta continued its upward trend in November. Since the start of the year, employment in the province is up 6.2% — more than three times the national rate of growth.

Gains in employment pushed Nova Scotia's unemployment rate down 0.8 percentage points in November to a 30-year low of 7.4%.

Alberta continues to drive employment growth

Employment continued to increase in Alberta in November (+10,000). The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 3.1%, the result of more people entering the labour market in search of work. Since the start of 2006, employment in the province has increased by 112,000. Alberta continues to fuel employment growth in the country, accounting for 40% of the national increase so far this year.

While employment was little changed in Saskatchewan in November, it has grown by 4.2% since the start of the year. Similarly, employment in Newfoundland and Labrador has also been on an upward trend with growth of 3.9% over the past 11 months.

Fastest growth in natural resources

While there was little change across industries in November, several have shown strong growth over the course of the year. The natural resource sector has seen the fastest rate of employment growth, up 11.8% (+36,000). Most of this increase came from Alberta (+19,000) and British Columbia (+16,000) and was largely in mining, oil and gas extraction as well as activities that support this industry.

Other industries showing strong gains this year include business, building and other support services, up 6.9% (+46,000), mainly due to increases in business and employment services. Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing saw gains of 6.1% (+61,000), the result of hiring in monetary authorities, rental and leasing services and real estate. There was also growth in one of Canada's largest industries, health care and social assistance, up 5.0% (+86,000) so far this year.

Despite little change in construction in November, employment in the industry has increased by 34,000 (+3.3%) so far this year. Strength in Alberta has driven much of the growth (+19,000).

Central Canada lags behind national growth rate

Despite an employment increase in Ontario (+19,000) in November, growth in the province so far this year has been hindered by declines in manufacturing (-63,000). These losses were offset by gains in a number of service industries, including: trade; health care and social assistance; and finance, insurance, real estate and leasing. Since December 2005, overall employment in the province has increased by only 71,000 (+1.1%).

In Quebec, so far this year, employment growth has been dampened by losses in both manufacturing and trade resulting in growth of only 0.7%. As with Ontario, weaknesses were also offset by gains in the service sector.

Available on CANSIM: tables 282-0001 to 282-0042, 282-0047 to 282-0064 and 282-0069 to 282-0099.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3701.

Available at 7:00 a.m. online under The Daily module of our website.

A more detailed summary, Labour Force Information (71-001-XWE, free) is now available online for the week ending November 11. From the Publications module of our website, under Free Internet publications, choose Labour. LAN and bulk prices are available on request. The CD-ROM Labour Force Historical Review, 2005 (71F0004XCB, $209) is also available.

Data tables are also now available online. From the By Subject module of our website choose Labour.

The next release of the Labour Force Survey will be on January 5, 2007.

For general information or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-873-8788; 613-951-4090; labour@statcan.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Danielle Zietsma (613-951-4243) or Vincent Ferrao (613-951-4750), Labour Statistics Division.

Labour force characteristics by age and sex
	October 2006	November 2006	October to November 2006	November 2005 to November 2006	October to November 2006	November 2005 to November 2006
	Seasonally adjusted
	thousands		change in thousands		% change
Both sexes 15+
Population	26,298.9	26,329.8	30.9	370.2	0.1	1.4
Labour force	17,641.2	17,687.2	46.0	277.7	0.3	1.6
Employment	16,555.5	16,577.9	22.4	274.5	0.1	1.7
Full-time	13,617.5	13,599.4	-18.1	264.9	-0.1	2.0
Part-time	2,938.0	2,978.5	40.5	9.6	1.4	0.3
Unemployment	1,085.7	1,109.3	23.6	3.2	2.2	0.3
Participation rate	67.1	67.2	0.1	0.1	...	...
Unemployment rate	6.2	6.3	0.1	-0.1	...	...
Employment rate	63.0	63.0	0.0	0.2	...	...
Part-time rate	17.7	18.0	0.3	-0.2	...	...
Youths 15 to 24
Population	4,332.1	4,335.4	3.3	36.1	0.1	0.8
Labour force	2,871.5	2,872.7	1.2	44.8	0.0	1.6
Employment	2,547.4	2,534.4	-13.0	26.5	-0.5	1.1
Full-time	1,458.9	1,426.7	-32.2	38.0	-2.2	2.7
Part-time	1,088.5	1,107.6	19.1	-11.6	1.8	-1.0
Unemployment	324.1	338.3	14.2	18.3	4.4	5.7
Participation rate	66.3	66.3	0.0	0.5	...	...
Unemployment rate	11.3	11.8	0.5	0.5	...	...
Employment rate	58.8	58.5	-0.3	0.2	...	...
Part-time rate	42.7	43.7	1.0	-0.9	...	...
Men 25+
Population	10,728.7	10,742.7	14.0	166.8	0.1	1.6
Labour force	7,889.9	7,914.0	24.1	79.2	0.3	1.0
Employment	7,466.4	7,491.6	25.2	91.3	0.3	1.2
Full-time	6,991.2	6,995.1	3.9	82.0	0.1	1.2
Part-time	475.2	496.6	21.4	9.4	4.5	1.9
Unemployment	423.6	422.3	-1.3	-12.2	-0.3	-2.8
Participation rate	73.5	73.7	0.2	-0.4	...	...
Unemployment rate	5.4	5.3	-0.1	-0.2	...	...
Employment rate	69.6	69.7	0.1	-0.3	...	...
Part-time rate	6.4	6.6	0.2	0.0	...	...
Women 25+
Population	11,238.1	11,251.7	13.6	167.3	0.1	1.5
Labour force	6,879.8	6,900.5	20.7	153.7	0.3	2.3
Employment	6,541.8	6,551.9	10.1	156.8	0.2	2.5
Full-time	5,167.4	5,177.6	10.2	144.9	0.2	2.9
Part-time	1,374.4	1,374.3	-0.1	11.9	0.0	0.9
Unemployment	338.0	348.6	10.6	-3.1	3.1	-0.9
Participation rate	61.2	61.3	0.1	0.4	...	...
Unemployment rate	4.9	5.1	0.2	-0.1	...	...
Employment rate	58.2	58.2	0.0	0.5	...	...
Part-time rate	21.0	21.0	0.0	-0.3	...	...
... not applicable Note: Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

Employment by class of worker and industry (based on NAICS)
	October 2006	November 2006	October to November 2006	November 2005 to November 2006	October to November 2006	November 2005 to November 2006
	Seasonally adjusted
	thousands		change in thousands		% change
Class of worker
Employees	14,087.6	14,099.1	11.5	336.9	0.1	2.4
Self-employed	2,467.9	2,478.8	10.9	-62.4	0.4	-2.5
Public/private sector employees
Public	3,222.4	3,183.7	-38.7	39.2	-1.2	1.2
Private	10,865.2	10,915.3	50.1	297.6	0.5	2.8
All industries	16,555.5	16,577.9	22.4	274.5	0.1	1.7
Goods-producing sector	3,977.0	3,996.5	19.5	-11.3	0.5	-0.3
Agriculture	339.0	337.5	-1.5	-4.8	-0.4	-1.4
Natural resources	341.5	345.0	3.5	39.0	1.0	12.7
Utilities	127.1	124.3	-2.8	5.8	-2.2	4.9
Construction	1,079.2	1,086.4	7.2	20.9	0.7	2.0
Manufacturing	2,090.2	2,103.4	13.2	-72.0	0.6	-3.3
Service-producing sector	12,578.5	12,581.4	2.9	285.8	0.0	2.3
Trade	2,629.1	2,641.1	12.0	44.6	0.5	1.7
Transportation and warehousing	800.5	815.5	15.0	10.2	1.9	1.3
Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing	1,055.7	1,057.0	1.3	81.0	0.1	8.3
Professional, scientific and technical services	1,084.1	1,103.1	19.0	36.7	1.8	3.4
Business, building and other support services	712.9	711.0	-1.9	36.9	-0.3	5.5
Educational services	1,174.1	1,163.7	-10.4	19.6	-0.9	1.7
Health care and social assistance	1,803.0	1,806.6	3.6	64.8	0.2	3.7
Information, culture and recreation	748.3	735.9	-12.4	-8.3	-1.7	-1.1
Accommodation and food services	1,035.0	1,031.5	-3.5	10.1	-0.3	1.0
Other services	696.4	684.4	-12.0	-17.4	-1.7	-2.5
Public administration	839.3	831.6	-7.7	7.5	-0.9	0.9
Note: Related to CANSIM tables 282-0088 and 282-0089.

Labour force characteristics by province
	October 2006	November 2006	October to November 2006	November 2005 to November 2006	October to November 2006	November 2005 to November 2006
	Seasonally adjusted
	thousands		change in thousands		% change
Newfoundland and Labrador
Population	426.9	426.6	-0.3	-2.7	-0.1	-0.6
Labour force	255.6	253.9	-1.7	-1.1	-0.7	-0.4
Employment	219.4	219.2	-0.2	2.0	-0.1	0.9
Full-time	186.6	184.2	-2.4	1.0	-1.3	0.5
Part-time	32.8	35.1	2.3	1.1	7.0	3.2
Unemployment	36.2	34.7	-1.5	-3.1	-4.1	-8.2
Participation rate	59.9	59.5	-0.4	0.1	...	...
Unemployment rate	14.2	13.7	-0.5	-1.1	...	...
Employment rate	51.4	51.4	0.0	0.8	...	...
Prince Edward Island
Population	112.5	112.6	0.1	0.7	0.1	0.6
Labour force	76.3	77.4	1.1	0.5	1.4	0.7
Employment	67.8	68.6	0.8	-0.1	1.2	-0.1
Full-time	56.8	57.6	0.8	0.3	1.4	0.5
Part-time	11.0	11.1	0.1	-0.3	0.9	-2.6
Unemployment	8.5	8.7	0.2	0.5	2.4	6.1
Participation rate	67.8	68.7	0.9	0.0	...	...
Unemployment rate	11.1	11.2	0.1	0.5	...	...
Employment rate	60.3	60.9	0.6	-0.5	...	...
Nova Scotia
Population	763.2	763.3	0.1	1.4	0.0	0.2
Labour force	480.2	479.3	-0.9	-2.9	-0.2	-0.6
Employment	441.0	444.0	3.0	1.7	0.7	0.4
Full-time	358.2	361.1	2.9	1.0	0.8	0.3
Part-time	82.8	82.8	0.0	0.6	0.0	0.7
Unemployment	39.2	35.4	-3.8	-4.5	-9.7	-11.3
Participation rate	62.9	62.8	-0.1	-0.5	...	...
Unemployment rate	8.2	7.4	-0.8	-0.9	...	...
Employment rate	57.8	58.2	0.4	0.1	...	...
New Brunswick
Population	611.0	611.0	0.0	-0.4	0.0	-0.1
Labour force	383.8	384.6	0.8	-3.6	0.2	-0.9
Employment	352.7	352.1	-0.6	0.2	-0.2	0.1
Full-time	297.9	297.4	-0.5	0.9	-0.2	0.3
Part-time	54.8	54.6	-0.2	-0.8	-0.4	-1.4
Unemployment	31.1	32.6	1.5	-3.8	4.8	-10.4
Participation rate	62.8	62.9	0.1	-0.6	...	...
Unemployment rate	8.1	8.5	0.4	-0.9	...	...
Employment rate	57.7	57.6	-0.1	0.0	...	...
Quebec
Population	6,272.6	6,277.8	5.2	66.7	0.1	1.1
Labour force	4,101.7	4,111.2	9.5	40.0	0.2	1.0
Employment	3,784.5	3,782.1	-2.4	36.5	-0.1	1.0
Full-time	3,115.0	3,108.9	-6.1	58.9	-0.2	1.9
Part-time	669.4	673.2	3.8	-22.4	0.6	-3.2
Unemployment	317.2	329.2	12.0	3.7	3.8	1.1
Participation rate	65.4	65.5	0.1	0.0	...	...
Unemployment rate	7.7	8.0	0.3	0.0	...	...
Employment rate	60.3	60.2	-0.1	-0.1	...	...
... not applicable Note: Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

Labour force characteristics by province
	October 2006	November 2006	October to November 2006	November 2005 to November 2006	October to November 2006	November 2005 to November 2006
	Seasonally adjusted
	thousands		change in thousands		% change
Ontario
Population	10,270.7	10,281.3	10.6	139.7	0.1	1.4
Labour force	6,926.9	6,948.7	21.8	84.4	0.3	1.2
Employment	6,485.5	6,504.6	19.1	57.8	0.3	0.9
Full-time	5,346.6	5,343.1	-3.5	41.4	-0.1	0.8
Part-time	1,138.9	1,161.5	22.6	16.5	2.0	1.4
Unemployment	441.4	444.1	2.7	26.6	0.6	6.4
Participation rate	67.4	67.6	0.2	-0.1	...	...
Unemployment rate	6.4	6.4	0.0	0.3	...	...
Employment rate	63.1	63.3	0.2	-0.3	...	...
Manitoba
Population	893.1	893.3	0.2	3.2	0.0	0.4
Labour force	613.8	615.3	1.5	6.1	0.2	1.0
Employment	588.2	587.3	-0.9	3.0	-0.2	0.5
Full-time	468.5	472.4	3.9	2.6	0.8	0.6
Part-time	119.8	114.9	-4.9	0.4	-4.1	0.3
Unemployment	25.5	28.1	2.6	3.2	10.2	12.9
Participation rate	68.7	68.9	0.2	0.5	...	...
Unemployment rate	4.2	4.6	0.4	0.5	...	...
Employment rate	65.9	65.7	-0.2	0.1	...	...
Saskatchewan
Population	746.1	746.1	0.0	-2.4	0.0	-0.3
Labour force	520.6	520.2	-0.4	12.9	-0.1	2.5
Employment	500.3	499.7	-0.6	18.7	-0.1	3.9
Full-time	406.9	407.0	0.1	18.6	0.0	4.8
Part-time	93.4	92.7	-0.7	0.1	-0.7	0.1
Unemployment	20.3	20.5	0.2	-5.8	1.0	-22.1
Participation rate	69.8	69.7	-0.1	1.9	...	...
Unemployment rate	3.9	3.9	0.0	-1.3	...	...
Employment rate	67.1	67.0	-0.1	2.7	...	...
Alberta
Population	2,673.9	2,684.0	10.1	103.4	0.4	4.0
Labour force	1,960.6	1,973.8	13.2	98.9	0.7	5.3
Employment	1,902.1	1,911.9	9.8	115.2	0.5	6.4
Full-time	1,614.3	1,615.2	0.9	113.4	0.1	7.6
Part-time	287.8	296.7	8.9	1.9	3.1	0.6
Unemployment	58.5	62.0	3.5	-16.3	6.0	-20.8
Participation rate	73.3	73.5	0.2	0.8	...	...
Unemployment rate	3.0	3.1	0.1	-1.1	...	...
Employment rate	71.1	71.2	0.1	1.6	...	...
British Columbia
Population	3,528.9	3,533.7	4.8	60.5	0.1	1.7
Labour force	2,321.7	2,322.7	1.0	42.4	0.0	1.9
Employment	2,214.0	2,208.5	-5.5	39.5	-0.2	1.8
Full-time	1,766.5	1,751.9	-14.6	25.8	-0.8	1.5
Part-time	447.5	456.5	9.0	13.6	2.0	3.1
Unemployment	107.7	114.2	6.5	2.8	6.0	2.5
Participation rate	65.8	65.7	-0.1	0.0	...	...
Unemployment rate	4.6	4.9	0.3	0.0	...	...
Employment rate	62.7	62.5	-0.2	0.1	...	...
... not applicable Note: Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

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