Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Bulletin - March 2010
Labour Force Trends - The number employed in the province is up 1.3% from March 2009 to March 2010.
- The number of employed in the province grew from 215,900 to 218,700 during this period.
The provincial unemployment rate increased by 1.1% from 14.4% in March 2009 to 15.5% in March 2010. The national unemployment rate presently stands at 8.2%.
| Seasonally Adjusted Data | Mar- 2010 |
Feb-2010 | Mar-2009 | Monthly Variation Number % |
Yearly Variation Number % |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population 15 + ('000) | 431.2 | 431.0 | 428.0 | 0.2 | 0.0% | 3.2 | 0.7% |
| Labour force ('000) | 258.7 | 257.3 | 252.3 | 1.4 | 0.5% | 6.4 | 2.5% |
| Employment ('000) | 218.7 | 219.6 | 215.9 | -0.9 | -0.4% | 2.8 | 1.3% |
| Full-time ('000) | 187.0 | 188.8 | 184.8 | -1.8 | -1.0% | 2.2 | 1.2% |
| Part-time ('000) | 31.7 | 30.8 | 31.1 | 0.9 | 2.9% | 0.6 | 1.9% |
| Unemployment ('000) | 40.0 | 37.7 | 36.4 | 2.3 | 6.1% | 3.6 | 9.9% |
| Participation Rate (%) | 60.0 | 59.7 | 58.9 | 0.3 | - | 1.1 | - |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 15.5 | 14.7 | 14.4 | 0.8 | - | 1.1 | - |
| Employment Rate (%) | 50.7 | 51.0 | 50.4 | -0.3 | - | 0.3 | - |
Note(s): Total may not add due to rounding |
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Source: Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey - HRSDC Table CD1T47sa |
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- Employment declined in March 2010, the first decrease since it started its upward trend in November 2009.
- Unemployment increased in March 2010, the first increase since October 2009.
Employment by Industry – Goods-Producing Sector down and Services-Producing sector up over March 2009
- The Goods-Producing Sector was down 1.6% from March 2009 to March 2010. Agriculture was down over 18% and Manufacturing decreased more than 16%. Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas showed the greatest increase of almost 10%.
- The Services-Producing Sector was up 2.0% over the same period with Accommodation & Food Services posting the largest increase at 16%. The biggest decreases were in Management, Administrative and Other Support (23.7%) and Information, Culture and Recreation (21.1%).
Seasonally Adjusted Data ('000) |
Mar- 2010 |
Feb- 2010 |
Mar- 2009 |
Monthly Variation Number % |
Yearly Variation Number % |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 218.7 | 219.6 | 215.9 | -0.9 | -0.4% | 2.8 | 1.3% |
| Goods-producing sector | 44.4 | 45.6 | 45.1 | -1.2 | -2.6% | -0.7 | -1.6% |
| Agriculture | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 80.0% | -0.2 | -18.2% |
| Forestry, Fishing, Mining, Oil and Gas | 15.8 | 16.1 | 14.4 | -0.3 | -1.9% | 1.4 | 9.7% |
| Utilities | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.9 | -0.3 | -13.0% | 0.1 | 5.3% |
| Construction | 14.8 | 15.3 | 14.7 | -0.5 | -3.3% | 0.1 | 0.7% |
| Manufacturing | 10.9 | 11.5 | 13.0 | -0.6 | -5.2% | -2.1 | -16.2% |
| Services-producing sector | 174.3 | 174.0 |
170.8 | 0.3 | 0.2% | 3.5 | 2.0% |
| Trade | 36.3 | 35.7 | 34.2 | 0.6 | 1.7% | 2.1 | 6.1% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 12.7 | 12.8 | 12.6 | -0.1 | -0.8% | 0.1 | 0.8% |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing | 7.9 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 0.4 | 5.3% | 0.6 | 8.2% |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 7.1 | 7.0 | 8.2 | 0.1 | 1.4% | -1.1 | -13.4% |
| Management, Administrative and Other Support |
5.8 | 6.6 | 7.6 | -0.8 | -12.1% | -1.8 | -23.7% |
| Educational Services | 17.6 | 18.0 | 17.1 | -0.4 | -2.2% | 0.5 | 2.9% |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 36.3 | 37.2 | 34.0 | -0.9 | -2.4% | 2.3 | 6.8% |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 7.5 | 7.4 | 9.5 | 0.1 | 1.4% | -2.0 | -21.1% |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 14.5 | 13.7 | 12.5 | 0.8 | 5.8% | 2.0 | 16.0% |
| Other services | 10.7 | 10.6 | 10.5 | 0.1 | 0.9% | 0.2 | 1.9% |
| Public Administration | 17.8 | 17.5 | 17.2 | 0.3 | 1.7% | 0.6 | 3.5% |
Note: Total may not add due to rounding. |
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Economic Regions – West Coast-Northern Peninsula-Labrador leads the province in employment growth
- During the period March 2009 to March 2010, the employment rate was up in West Coast-Northern Peninsula-Labrador (3.6%) as well as on the Avalon Peninsula (0.2%). Notre Dame-Central Bonavista Bay experienced the largest decrease (1.4%) followed by the South Coast-Burin Peninsula (0.2%).
- Over the same period, the unemployment rate increased in Notre Dame-Central Bonavista Bay (3.2%), followed by the Avalon Peninsula (1.0%). South Coast-Burin Peninsula experienced the largest decrease in unemployment (4.9%), followed by West Coast-Northern Peninsula-Labrador (4.2%).
- In March 2010, the Avalon Peninsula had the lowest rate of unemployment at 12.4%, while the Notre Dame-Central Bonavista Bay experienced the highest rate of unemployment at 27.5%.
- St. John’s is on par with the national unemployment rate of 8.2%.
Three Month Moving Averages |
March |
March |
Variation |
March |
March |
Variation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1010 – Avalon Peninsula |
1020 – South Coast – Burin Peninsula |
||||
Population 15 + (‘000) |
217.6 |
214.2 |
3.4 |
31.7 |
32.1 |
-0.4 |
Labour Force (‘000) |
137.1 |
132.6 |
4.5 |
15.1 |
16.4 |
-1.3 |
Employment (‘000) |
120.0 |
117.5 |
2.5 |
11.7 |
11.9 |
-0.2 |
Full-Time (‘000) |
100.9 |
98.2 |
2.7 |
9.6 |
10.2 |
-0.6 |
Part-Time (‘000) |
19.1 |
19.3 |
-0.2 |
2.2 |
1.7 |
0.5 |
Unemployment (‘000) |
17.0 |
15.1 |
1.9 |
3.3 |
4.4 |
-1.1 |
Participation Rate (%) |
63.0 |
61.9 |
1.1 |
47.6 |
51.1 |
-3.5 |
Unemployment Rate (%) |
12.4 |
11.4 |
1.0 |
21.9 |
26.8 |
-4.9 |
Employment Rate (%) |
55.1 |
54.9 |
0.2 |
36.9 |
37.1 |
-0.2 |
|
1030 – West Coast – |
1040 – Notre Dame – |
||||
Population 15 + (‘000) |
88.3 |
88.0 |
0.3 |
93.4 |
93.5 |
-0.1 |
Labour Force (‘000) |
48.9 |
47.4 |
1.5 |
47.2 |
46.9 |
0.3 |
Employment (‘000) |
39.4 |
36.1 |
3.3 |
34.2 |
35.5 |
-1.3 |
Full-Time (‘000) |
33.0 |
30.7 |
2.3 |
28.2 |
29.3 |
-1.1 |
Part-Time (‘000) |
6.4 |
5.4 |
1.0 |
6.0 |
6.2 |
-0.2 |
Unemployment (‘000) |
9.5 |
11.2 |
-1.7 |
13.0 |
11.4 |
1.6 |
Participation Rate (%) |
55.4 |
53.9 |
1.5 |
50.5 |
50.2 |
0.3 |
Unemployment Rate (%) |
19.4 |
23.6 |
-4.2 |
27.5 |
24.3 |
3.2 |
Employment Rate (%) |
44.6 |
41.0 |
3.6 |
36.6 |
38.0 |
-1.4 |
|
St-John's Nfld. |
|
||||
Population 15 + (‘000) |
159.7 |
156.4 |
3.3 |
|
|
|
Labour Force (‘000) |
108.1 |
106.6 |
1.5 |
|
|
|
Employment (‘000) |
99.2 |
98.2 |
1.0 |
|
|
|
Full-Time (‘000) |
83.6 |
81.8 |
1.8 |
|
|
|
Part-Time (‘000) |
15.6 |
16.4 |
-0.8 |
|
|
|
Unemployment (‘000) |
8.9 |
8.5 |
0.4 |
|
|
|
Participation Rate (%) |
67.7 |
68.2 |
-0.5 |
|
|
|
Unemployment Rate (%) |
8.2 |
8.0 |
0.2 |
|
|
|
Employment Rate (%) |
62.1 |
62.8 |
-0.7 |
|
|
|
Source: Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey – HRSDC Table SGEODEM |
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EVENTS
Mining
- Wabush Mines held information sessions across the province from March 18 to 22 in Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, St. John's and Goose Bay. The company expects to hire 15-20 tradespeople along with staff to fill in during the summer vacation period.
- Tenacity Gold Mining Company of St. John's plans to open two gold mines on the Baie Verte Peninsula. The company will mine small amounts of gold from both Deer Cove and Stog’er Tight near Ming’s Bight for a six month period. The company expects the project to create 50 short-term jobs. Tenacity has filed an Environmental Assessment with the provincial government and is expecting a decision by April. Based on approval of the plan, work is expected to start as early as June and first gold poured by July.
- Rambler Metals and Mining, the company that operates the Ming Mine copper-gold site on the Baie Verte Peninsula, has received an investment of $20 million from a mining company in Vancouver, in exchange for 25% of the approximate 175, 000 ounces Rambler expects to produce in a 10-year period. The investment will go towards the expansion of the processing facility, the Ming Mine site and shipping port in Goodyear’s Cove. The Ming Mine site is anticipated to begin production by the end of 2011. Rambler has already invested $30 million into the operation, and will invest another $25 million by the time the mine starts producing. At present there are about 24 employees at the Rambler site. That number is expected to increase to approximately 160 when the mine goes into production.
- The opening of the new Bloom Lake iron ore mine next fall in eastern Quebec will include a rail line that goes through western Labrador. A benefits agreement signed between the Newfoundland and Labrador government and the mine’s operator, Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd., ensures that all railroad workers working on the construction of the rail line will be hired from the province.
- The provincial Department of Natural Resources has announced funding of $235,000 to complete a minerals strategy that will include a comprehensive review of the mining industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. The strategy will focus on expanding exploration and production activity, and creating employment opportunities, while paying particular attention to environmental protection and sustainable development of mineral resources.
Mining - Long Harbour Update
- Malthus AS, a Norwegian company that builds accommodations camps for the oil and gas industry, signed a $52-million contract this month to build the construction camp for Vale Inco's nickel-processing plant in Long Harbour. Malthus AS is a sub-contractor of ESS Support Services/Compass Group Canada, a global food service company. Malthus AS will build the living quarters in Norway and ship the units to Long Harbour. The first units will arrive this summer and are expected to house about 250 workers by August. Malthus will hire 25 people to work at the site. The camp is expected to be completed and ready for workers by the first quarter of 2011. When completed, it is expected to house and feed up to 1,000 people.
- Under its three-year contract with Vale Inco, ESS Support Services/Compass Group Canada will operate the camp. The company expects to hire up to 115 people to provide food, janitorial, housekeeping, maintenance and laundry services at the temporary camp.
Accommodation
- The construction of a rail line to service the new Bloom Lake iron ore mine in eastern Quebec mine is having a positive effect on the accommodations sector in western Labrador. The Grenfell Hotel in Wabush says bookings have increased since the construction of the mine began. The hotel is adding 15 suites, a conference room, gym, and spa in preparation for the added business.
Construction
- Country Ribbon is proposing to construct a 1,000 square metre, single story protein conversion plant in St. John’s. The plant will be located on Incinerator Road. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and the plant is expected to begin operations in early 2011.
- Adam’s Construction of Bishop’s Falls has won the contract for the demolition of two old buildings, the Great Eastern Oil building and the Co-op building, in the town of Grand Falls-Windsor. The town plans to build a cultural building on the site of the old Co-op. Construction is expected to begin in late spring.
Call Centres
- On March 22, Covergys’ Torbay Road office in St. John’s laid off 34 employees in the Human Resources Management Division. The employer states that the decision was made to bring the number of agents at the office in line with the volume of calls received.
Health Services
- The G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital in Clarenville is currently recruiting nine full-time, permanent nursing positions. These nurses are scheduled to begin work in May. Eastern Health has managed to recruit 126 nursing grads this year from Memorial University and the Centre for Nursing Studies.
Manufacturing
- Dynamic Air Shelters of Grand Bank recently received funding ($725,000) from the provincial government to expand its business. The company is currently in talks with the Canadian and US military, as well as international development agencies, to try to secure additional contracts (e.g. for products such as inflatable shelters for use in Afghanistan and other areas). At present, the company’s biggest clients are the oil companies. The company presently employs 70 to 75 workers, and expects that up to 20 more workers may be required if additional contracts are secured through this expansion.
Fishery and Aquaculture
- The seafood industry in Newfoundland and Labrador faced many challenges in 2009, including poor global economic conditions, a high Canadian dollar, low inventories for crab and shrimp, and the shutdown of the shrimp fishery. The total value of the industry was down 22 per cent to a total value of $827 million from 2008. Employment was down by 14 percent, with an average of 10,300 person years of employment. The number of processing plants in operation was down to 105 from 115 in 2008. The bright spot in the fishery has been in aquaculture, where production rose by 18 per cent and market value for aquaculture products increased by 45.9 percent to $92 million in 2009. This was due primarily to strong prices for Atlantic salmon and trout.
- The Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA) recently launched professional development training programs for finfish and shellfish aquaculturists, in an effort to expand aquaculture in the Coast of Bays and Green Bay regions. The Association plans to hold 30 training sessions over the next three years. The sessions will focus on best practices and opportunities for expanding salmonid and mussel farming.
General
- The latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey indicates that St. John's area employers expect an active hiring climate for the second quarter of 2010: 23% plan to hire for the upcoming quarter (April to June), 3% anticipate cutbacks, 71% intend to maintain their current staffing levels, and 3% are unsure of their hiring intentions. The best job opportunities appear to be in the Education and Mining and Construction sectors.
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.