Prince Edward Island Labour Market Brief
August 2011
| Monthly Variation | Yearly Variation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonally Adjusted Monthly Data | August 2011 | July 2011 | August 2010 | Number | Percent | Number | Percent |
| Population 15+ | 119.7 | 119.5 | 117.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 2.1 |
| Labour Force | 81.3 | 81.2 | 80.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
| Employment | 72.0 | 71.8 | 71.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.4 |
| Full-Time | 60.1 | 59.3 | 58.2 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 3.3 |
| Part-Time | 11.9 | 12.6 | 12.9 | -0.7 | -5.6 | -1.0 | -7.8 |
| Unemployment | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.3 | -0.1 | -1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Participate Rate (%) | 67.9 | 67.9 | 68.5 | 0.0 | - | -0.6 | - |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 11.4 | 11.6 | 11.6 | -0.2 | - | -0.2 | - |
| Employment Rate (%) | 60.2 | 60.1 | 60.6 | 0.1 | - | -0.4 | - |
| Total may not add due to rounding Source: Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey |
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Labour market conditions in PEI continued to remain stable. In August 2011, both labour force and employment levels rose marginally and the unemployment rate edged downward, to 11.4%. The participation rate for the province averaged 67.9% in August, and was unchanged compared to the previous month.
There were a total of 81,300 persons in the labour force in August, which is up by 1.2% (or 1,000 persons) compared to August 2010. Growth in employment was 1.4% year-over-year which was as a result of gains in full-time work (+3.3%).
The level of unemployment remained virtually unchanged compared to a year ago and the unemployment rate averaged 11.4% in August 2011.
The unemployment rate for male workers rose on a year-over-year basis, by 1.3 percentage points to 12.4%, but declined for women, to 9.7%. Youth men (15-24 years of age) experienced a 2.1 percentage point drop in its unemployment rate to 18.2%, while the unemployment remained unchanged for women.
The Island participation rate was 67.9% in August, down by 0.6 of a percentage point compared to a year ago. PEI maintains the highest participation rate in Atlantic Canada, and remains above the national average of 66.7%.
| Monthly Variation | Yearly Variation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2011 | July 2011 | August 2010 | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Total | 72.0 | 71.8 | 71.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.4 |
| Goods Producing Sector | 17.7 | 17.7 | 16.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 9.9 |
| Agriculture | 3.6 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 24.1 |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas | 3.3 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 13.8 |
| Utilities | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | -0.1 | -25.0 | -0.1 | -25.0 |
| Construction | 4.9 | 5.5 | 4.7 | -0.6 | -10.9 | 0.2 | 4.3 |
| Manufacturing | 5.6 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 0.6 | 12.0 | 0.4 | 7.7 |
| Service Producing Sector | 54.3 | 54.2 | 54.9 | 0.1 | 0.2 | -0.6 | -1.1 |
| Trade | 9.6 | 10.8 | 9.9 | -1.2 | -11.1 | -0.3 | -3.0 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 14.3 | 0.4 | 20.0 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 7.7 | 0.1 | 3.7 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 3.6 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 20.0 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| Management, Administrative and other support services | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.8 | -0.1 | -4.3 | -0.6 | -21.4 |
| Educational Services | 6.6 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 20.0 |
| Health care and social assistance | 8.4 | 8.6 | 9.0 | -0.2 | -2.3 | -0.6 | -6.7 |
| Information culture and recreation | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.3 | -10.3 |
| Accommodations and food services | 5.4 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 0.4 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Other Services | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.6 | -0.2 | -6.1 | -0.5 | -13.9 |
| Public Administration | 7.6 | 7.3 | 8.1 | 0.3 | 4.1 | -0.5 | -6.2 |
| "-" 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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All of the employment gains on a year-over-year basis occurred in the goods-producing sector. Service-sector employment declined slightly in August.
Goods-producing sector
- Goods-sector employment totalled 17,700 in August, which is an increase of 1,600 (or nearly 10%) compared to the same month last year.
- The gains were largely concentrated in the primary industries: agriculture (+700 or +24%) and forestry and fishing, mining, oil and gas (+400).
The employment estimates for agriculture may be subject to statistical variation and therefore, should be viewed with caution. For example, employment in agriculture in August 2010 declined by 15% from the previous month, and then experienced a +13% correction in October. The unexplained drop in August 2010 makes the year-over-year growth look higher than what may actually be the case. Again, caution should be exercised when analyzing growth in this industry. - The manufacturing industry showed signs of improvement with a 7.7% increase in its employment base from the previous year. There were 5,600 persons working in manufacturing in August 2011, which is the highest its been since November 2010. Employment in construction also rose on a year-over-year basis, by 4.3%.
Services-producing sector
- The number of persons employed in the Island's service-sector in August 2011 was down by 1.1% compared to the previous year.
- Employment levels were down from a year ago in health care and social assistance (-600), management and admin support services (-600), and public administration (-500). Employment in trade was also lower, by 3%.
- Education services experienced a significant increase in its employment base year-over-year, by 1,100, which helped offset the losses noted above. Employment was also higher in the professional, scientific and technical service industry (+600); but remained unchanged in the accommodation and food service industry.
Prepared by: Labour Market and Socio-economic Information Directorate, Maritime Region
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