Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Bulletin - February 2010
LABOUR FORCE TRENDS
- From January 2010 to February 2010, the unemployment rate decreased from 14.9% to 14.7%.
- Employment increased by 1000 (0.5%) from January to February.
- Full-time employment increased by 1600 (0.9%) in February, while part-time employment decreased by 600 (1.9%).
- The labour force increased by 500 (0.2%) from January to February.
- Year over year, the unemployment rate decreased from 15.5% to 14.7%.
- From February 2009 to February 2010, the labour force of Newfoundland and Labrador increased by a total of 3,700 (1.5%), while the number employed increased by 5,200 (2.4%).
| Seasonally Adjusted Data | Feb- 10 |
Jan-10 | Feb-09 | Monthly Variation Number % |
Yearly Variation Number % |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population 15 + ('000) | 431.0 | 430.8 | 427.9 | 0.2 | 0.0% | 3.1 | 0.7% |
| Labour force ('000) | 257.3 | 256.8 | 253.6 | 0.5 | 0.2% | 3.7 | 1.5% |
| Employment ('000) | 219.6 | 218.6 | 214.4 | 1.0 | 0.5% | 5.2 | 2.4% |
| Full-time ('000) | 188.8 | 187.2 | 184.1 | 1.6 | 0.9% | 4.7 | 2.6% |
| Part-time ('000) | 30.8 | 31.4 | 30.3 | -0.6 | -1.9% | 0.5 | 1.7% |
| Unemployment ('000) | 37.7 | 38.2 | 39.2 | -0.5 | -1.3% | -1.5 | -3.8% |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7 | 14.9 | 15.5 | -0.2 | - | -0.8 | - |
| Participation Rate | 59.7 | 59.6 | 59.3 | 0.1 | - | 0.4 | - |
| Employment Rate | 51.0 | 50.7 | 50.1 | 0.3 | - | 0.9 | - |
Note(s): Total may not add due to rounding |
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Source: Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey |
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- In February 2010, employment levels continued on an upward trend from 2009 and currently stand at 219,600.
- In February 2010, unemployment levels continued on a downward trend from 2009 and the unemployment rate currently stands at 14.7%.
Employment by Industry – Employment gains in the Goods-Producing and Services sector
- The goods-producing sector showed an employment decrease of 1.3% from January 2010 to February 2010.
- The largest increase in employment in this sector was in Utilities at 15.0%. The goods-producing sector increased by 0.7% from February 2009 to February 2010.
- The largest decrease in employment in this sector was in Agriculture at 50.0%.- The services-producing sector showed an employment increase of 0.9% from January 2010 to February 2010.
The services-producing sector increased by 2.9% from February 2009 to February 2010.
- The largest decrease in employment in this sector was in Management, Administrative and Other Support at 23.3%.
- The largest increase in employment in this sector was in Accommodation & Food Services at 28.0%.
Seasonally Adjusted Data ('000) |
Feb- 2010 |
Jan- 2010 |
Feb- 2009 |
Monthly Variation Number % |
Yearly Variation Number % |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 219.6 | 218.6 | 214.4 | 1.0 | 0.5% | 5.2 | 2.4% |
| Goods-producing sector | 45.6 | 46.2 | 45.3 | -0.6 | -1.3% | 0.3 | 0.7% |
| Agriculture | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | -0.5 | -50.0% |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas | 16.1 | 15.2 | 15.4 | 0.9 | 5.9% | 0.7 | 4.5% |
| Utilities | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 15.0% | 0.1 | 4.5% |
| Construction | 15.3 | 15.2 | 14.2 | 0.1 | 0.7% | 1.1 | 7.7% |
| Manufacturing | 11.5 | 13.3 | 12.4 | -1.8 | -13.5% | -0.9 | -7.3% |
| Services-producing sector | 174.0 | 172.4
|
169.1 | 1.6 | 0.9% | 4.9 | 2.9% |
| Trade | 35.7 | 36.3 | 34.5 | -0.6 | -1.7% | 1.2 | 3.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 12.8 | 12.2 | 10.6 | 0.6 | 4.9% | 2.2 | 20.8% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing | 7.5 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 0.5 | 7.1% | 0.2 | 2.7% |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.6 | -0.2 | -2.8% | -0.6 | -7.9% |
| Management, Administrative & Other Support |
6.6 | 6.1 | 8.6 | 0.5 | 8.2% | -2.0 | -23.3% |
| Educational services | 18.0 | 16.9 | 17.3 | 1.1 | 6.5% | 0.7 | 4.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 37.2 | 36.0 | 34.3 | 1.2 | 3.3% | 2.9 | 8.5% |
| Information, culture and recreation | 7.4 | 7.5 | 9.6 | -0.1 | -1.3% | -2.2 | -22.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 13.7 | 13.9 | 10.7 | -0.2 | -1.4% | 3.0 | 28.0% |
| Other services | 10.6 | 11.4 | 11.4 | -0.8 | -7.0% | -0.8 | -7.0% |
| Public administration | 17.5 | 17.9 | 17.2 | -0.4 | -2.2% | 0.3 | -1.7% |
Note: Total may not add due to rounding. |
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EVENTS
Construction
Sobeys has announced the construction of a new 40,000 square foot grocery store adjacent to the Peninsula Mall in Marystown. At this time, the number of jobs to be created from this project is unknown. Construction is expected to begin in March.
Tenders for the new $35-million Metrobus depot in St. John’s are expected to be called in early March. Construction is expected to begin this spring and be completed within two years. The new depot will be environmentally friendly and a green initiative. The city hopes that the new facility will be the first in St. John’s to be designated under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an international green building rating system.
Health
The provincial government has awarded a $4.6 million contract for installation of the foundation and structural steel for the new Labrador West Regional Health Care facility. Work is expected to start in the spring. Site preparation started in 2007 and was completed in 2009. Water and sewer lines are currently being extended to the facility.
Manufacturing
Early in February, workers of all eight unions at the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Mill agreed to wage concessions. These concessions include a 10% cut in pay, which will be paid back to workers when conditions in the industry improve. The agreement is in effect until Dec 31, 2010 or until renewal of collective agreements. In addition to the wage concessions from unionized staff, 15 non-union employees were permanently laid off.
Mining
The Bloom Lake iron ore development in Labrador is near completion. The development, with an anticipated 40 year life span, was expected to deliver its first shipment in February or March. When in full operation the mine will employ between 250-275 workers on site with an additional 20 employees operating the rail line.
Canada Fluorspar has submitted a bid to reopen the fluorspar mine in St. Lawrence. It is anticipated 114 underground production and development miners and 48 underground mine service and support workers will be required. Most of the skills gaps that were identified were positions that required a high level of education including engineers, architects, land surveyors, as well as geological and mineral technologists and technicians. Some positions are expected to be filled by individuals who are multi-skilled.
Labrador Iron Mines has the green light on its environmental assessment for its Shefferville area iron ore project. They hope to be in production by summer and will require approximately 110 people for the project. Those positions are expected to be permanent. Work will likely be contracted out to a Labrador West Contractor.
Oil and Gas
In February, the Provincial Government signed formal agreements with its industry partners to develop the Hibernia Southern Extension. It is estimated to return approximately $13 billion to the Provincial Government and extend production from the main field for an additional five years. The deal also includes a Gender Equity and Diversification Program. The Benefits, Hibernia Royalty and the Closing Agreements are available at www.nr.gov.nl.ca/nr/.
Transportation
The Stephenville Airport Corporation has requested interim financing from the provincial government to enable it to continue to operate. Government officials have indicated that a decision on this funding request should be made in the near future. Talks are on-going with a third party regarding interest in operating the airport.
Prepared by: Labour Market Information Unit, Service Canada
For further information contact:
Email: nl-lmi-imt@servicecanada.gc.ca
Note: In preparing this bulletin, Service Canada has taken care to provide clients with labour market information from reliable sources that is timely and accurate at the time of publication. Since labour market conditions are dynamic, some of the information presented here may have changed since the bulletin was published. Readers are encouraged to also refer to other sources for additional information on the local economy and labour market. Information contained in this bulletin does not necessarily reflect official policies of Service Canada.