Canada Gained 79,000 Jobs in November

Source: The Canadian Press

Posted: 12/04/09 8:42AM

Filed Under: Canada

AP Photo/Steven Senne
AP Photo/Steven Senne

OTTAWA - Canada's economy swelled by 79,000 jobs last month, Statistics Canada reported Friday.

That pulled Canada's unemployment rate down one-tenth of a point to 8.5 per cent in November. There were signs all around that Canada's struggling economy is on the rebound. Full-time jobs rose by 39,000, the third month of gains in a row, and part-time jobs also went up by 40,000 after two months of losses.

Self-employment also fell in November by 32,000 jobs. That's potentially a good sign for the economy, since economists tend to discount self-employment gains in a weak economy as mostly involuntary, the result of enterprising Canadians starting their own businesses when they can't find regular work.

Statistics Canada says employment is now down 321,000 jobs, or 1.9 per cent, since October 2008.

The agency also noted that hourly wages were 2.3 per cent higher than a year ago, the lowest year-over-year growth since March 2007.

Employment growth were spread across the country, with the biggest gains in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.

Most gains were among women between the ages of 25 and 54, and men aged 55 and over.

Statistics Canada notes that between October 2008 and March 2009, employment fell in almost all industries, especially in manufacturing and construction. But since March, the manufacturing sector has slowly stemmed its hemorrhaging of jobs, while employment has picked up in construction and some service industries.

"Almost all the employment growth in November was attributable to the strength of the service sector (plus 73,000), especially educational services," the agency said in a note.

"With November's increase, employment in the service sector is back at its October 2008 level, while employment in the goods sector remains well below (minus 324,000) where it was at that time."

Regionally, Ontario's unemployment rate remained unchanged from the previous month at 9.3 per cent, even though the province's economy grew by 27,000 jobs in November.

In Quebec, gains of 21,000 jobs pulled the province's unemployment rate down four-tenths of a point to 8.1 per cent. The province has lost jobs more slowly than other provinces during the economic downturn.

Alberta's employment rose by 13,000 last month, the biggest gain in more than a year. British Columbia's economy also continues to grow.

Manitoba's economy remained stable, as it has throughout the downturn, and Newfoundland and Labrador also saw employment increase by 2,700 jobs in November.

Canada's national unemployment rate was 8.5 per cent in November.

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