Prince Edward Island Labour Market Brief
April 2011
| Monthly Variation | Yearly Variation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in thousands of persons | April 2011 | March 2011 | April 2010 | Level | Percent | Level | Percent |
| Population 15+ | 118.6 | 118.6 | 116.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
| Labour Force | 80.5 | 80.6 | 79.4 | -0.1 | -0.1 | 1.1 | 1.4 |
| Employment | 71.5 | 71.6 | 72.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.6 | -0.8 |
| Full-Time | 59.3 | 59.4 | 59.8 | -0.1 | -0.2 | -0.5 | -0.8 |
| Part-Time | 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.3 | -0.1 | -0.8 | -0.2 | -1.6 |
| Unemployment | 9.0 | 9.0 | 7.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 23.3 |
| Participate Rate (%) | 67.8 | 68.0 | 68.0 | -0.2 | - | -0.2 | - |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 11.2 | 11.2 | 9.2 | - | - | 2.0 | - |
| Employment Rate (%) | 60.2 | 60.4 | 61.8 | -0.2 | - | -1.6 | - |
| Total may not add due to rounding Source: Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey |
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Labour market conditions in PEI remained stable on a month-to-month basis, with little to no change in employment and unemployment. The unemployment rate remained at 11.2% in April.
The labour force totalled 80,500 in April 2011, which is up by 1.4% from the previous year. The level of employment was nearly 1% lower compared to April 2010, due largely to a reduction in full-time employment. Men accounted for the entire decrease.
The unemployment rate was 2 percentage points higher compared to a year ago. The number of unemployed persons rose by nearly 25% over the past year, with 1,000 more men looking for work and 700 more women unemployed. In terms of age groups, the unemployment rate for persons in the core age group (25-54 years) was 9.7% in April 2011, up by 2.7 percentage points compared to the year prior. The largest change in the unemployment rate occurred for youths (15-24 years), which was up by 4 percentage points (largely attributed to women). The unemployment rate was actually lower for older workers (55 years and over), which declined by nearly 2 percentage points.
The participation rate remains slightly lower than it was a year ago, at 67.8% in April 2011. PEI maintained the highest participation rate compared to provinces East of Manitoba; and exceeded the national average by nearly 1 percentage point. In PEI, the participation rate for women averaged 64.2% in April 2011, and was second only to Alberta.
| Monthly Variation | Yearly Variation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonally Adjusted Data ('000) | April 2011 | March 2011 | April 2010 | Number | % | Number | % |
| Total | 71.5 | 71.6 | 72.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.6 | -0.8 |
| Goods Producing Sector | 17.8 | 17.5 | 17.2 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 3.5 |
| Agriculture | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 0.1 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 5.7 |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 14.8 |
| Utilities | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Construction | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 0.1 | 1.9 | -0.1 | -1.8 |
| Manufacturing | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 0.2 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 3.8 |
| Service Producing Sector | 53.6 | 54.1 | 54.9 | -0.5 | -0.9 | -1.3 | -2.4 |
| Trade | 9.8 | 10.3 | 11.1 | -0.5 | -4.9 | -1.3 | -11.7 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.2 | -8.7 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 3.3 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 22.2 |
| Management, Administrative and other support services | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.3 | -10.7 |
| Educational Services | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 0.2 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 3.3 |
| Health care and social assistance | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.5 | -0.1 | -1.1 | 0.1 | 1.2 |
| Information culture and recreation | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 20.8 |
| Accommodations and food services | 5.4 | 5.8 | 5.3 | -0.4 | -6.9 | 0.1 | 1.9 |
| Other Services | 2.8 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 0.2 | 7.7 | -0.5 | -15.2 |
| Public Administration | 7.5 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.5 | -6.3 |
| "-" indicates number suppressed due to high sample variance Total may not add due to rounding Source: Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey |
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There were 71,500 persons employed in April 2011, and three-quarters of which worked in the services producing sector.
Goods-producing sector
A total of 17,800 persons were employed in the goods-sector in April 2011, which is 3.5% higher compared to a year ago.
- The majority of gains occurred in the forestry and fishing industry (+400); and employment levels in agriculture and manufacturing both increased by 200 year over year.
- Employment in manufacturing remains low by historical standards, however there has been signs of modest improvement in recent months.
Services-producing sector
There were 53,600 persons employed in the service-producing sector in April 2011, which is down by 1,300 persons compared to a year ago.
- The year-over-year decline in the service sector was for the most part concentrated in the trade industry. A total of 9,800 persons worked in trade (largely retail) which is a decline of nearly 12% compared to April 2010. Employment levels were also lower in public administration, management/administrative services, and in other service industries.
- On the upside, employment levels on a year-over-year basis were particularly higher in professional and technical services (+600); and in the information, culture and recreation industry (+500).
Prepared by: Labour Market and Socio-economic Information Directorate, Maritime Region
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