Labour Market Bulletin - February 2010
Labour Force Trends - Labour market indicators continue to improve on the Island
- Both the labour force and employment experienced increases on the Island from January to February 2010. At 72,200, employment levels reached a new all-time high for the fourth month in a row.
- Labour market indicators showed significant improvements on the Island compared to this period a year ago.
- Since last year, the labour force increased by almost 2,000. Men accounted for the majority of the increase.
| Monthly Variation |
Yearly Variation |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Seasonally Adjusted) | Feb 2010 |
Jan 2010 |
Feb 2009 |
Number | % | Number | % |
| Population 15+ | 116,600 | 116,400 | 115,300 | 200 | 0.2 | 1,300 | 1.1 |
| Labour Force | 80,300 | 79,600 | 78,400 | 700 | 0.9 | 1,900 | 2.4 |
| Employment | 72,200 | 71,700 | 68,700 | 500 | 0.7 | 3,500 | 5.1 |
| - Employment full-time | 58,600 | 57,900 | 58,100 | 700 | 1.2 | 500 | 0.9 |
| - Employment part-time | 13,600 | 13,800 | 10,600 | -200 | -1.4 | 3,000 | 28.3 |
| Unemployment | 8,200 | 7,900 | 9,700 | 300 | 3.8 | -1,500 | -15.5 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 10.2 | 9.9 | 12.4 | 0.3 | -2.2 | ||
| Participation Rate (%) | 68.9 | 68.4 | 68.0 | 0.5 | 0.9 | ||
| Employment Rate (%) | 61.9 | 61.6 | 59.6 | 0.3 | 2.3 | ||
Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey
- Both full-time and part-time employment levels experienced significant increases, resulting in a net employment gain of 3,500 jobs, compared to twelve months ago.
- The participation rate on the Island continues to rank among the highest in the country. In February 2010, the participation rate was the highest in the Atlantic region and the fourth highest in the country. At 65%, the participation rate for women on PEI was the second highest in the country.
- In the past year, the youth labour force edged up (by 100), while employment increased by 400, as a result the unemployment rate decreased by 2.3 percentage points to 15.9%
Employment by Industry: Employment gains in services-producing industries.
There were 18,000 persons employed in the goods-producing sector in January; down by 200 compared to last year.
- There were year-over-year total employment losses in forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas; utilities and; manufacturing totalling 1,400, which offset gains in the other two goods-producing industries.
- Employment levels were up by 800 and 400 in construction and agriculture respectively.
The level of employment in the services-producing sector was 52,400 in February 2010, up by 3,700 compared to the previous year.
- There were job losses in the transportation and warehousing (-300); finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (-200); information culture and recreation (-700) and; public administration (-100) industries.
- Employment gains in trade; professional, scientific and technical services; business, building and other support services; educational services; health care; accommodation and food services; and, other services industries, that totalled 4,400, more than offset the employment losses in this sector.
| Month/Month Change |
Year/Year Change |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sector (Seasonally Adjusted) |
Feb 2010 | Jan 2010 | Feb 2009 | Absolute | % | Absolute | % |
| Total Employed | 72,200 | 71,700 | 68,700 | 500 | 0.7 | 3,500 | 5.1 |
| Goods-Producing Sector | 18,000 | 18,000 | 18,200 | 0 | 0 | -200 | -1.1 |
| Agriculture | 3,800 | 3,900 | 3,400 | -100 | -2.6 | 400 | 11.8 |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas | 2,700 | 2,600 | 3,300 | 100 | 3.8 | -600 | -18.2 |
| Utilities | 200 | 300 | 300 | -100 | -33.3 | -100 | -33.3 |
| Construction | 6,200 | 5,900 | 5,400 | 300 | 5.1 | 800 | 14.8 |
| Manufacturing | 5,100 | 5,300 | 5,800 | -200 | -3.8 | -700 | -12.1 |
| Services-Producing Sector | 54,200 | 53,700 | 50,500 | 500 | 0.9 | 3,700 | 7.3 |
| Trade | 11,300 | 11,500 | 8,800 | -200 | -1.7 | 2,500 | 28.4 |
| Transportation & warehousing | 2,200 | 1,900 | 2,500 | 300 | 15.8 | -300 | -12.0 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing | 2,300 | 2,300 | 2,500 | 0 | 0 | -200 | -8.0 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,400 | 2,300 | 2,300 | 100 | 4.3 | 100 | 4.3 |
| Business, building & other support services | 2,900 | 2,700 | 2,700 | 200 | 7.4 | 200 | 7.4 |
| Educational services | 5,600 | 5,700 | 5,000 | -100 | -1.8 | 600 | 12.0 |
| Health care & social assistance | 8,500 | 8,700 | 7,700 | -200 | -2.3 | 800 | 10.4 |
| Information, culture and recreation | 2,200 | 2,200 | 2,900 | 0 | 0 | -700 | -24.1 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,500 | 5,400 | 5,400 | 100 | 1.9 | 100 | 1.9 |
| Other Services | 3,600 | 3,300 | 2,900 | 300 | 9.1 | 700 | 24.1 |
| Public Administration | 7,700 | 7,600 | 7,800 | 100 | 1.3 | -100 | -1.3 |
In the News: February 2010
The Province of PEI is funding a new pilot program Trade HERizons (administered by Women's Network PE) that will promote non-traditional trades as viable career options for 36 women over three years. Participants will complete a 14-week college-readiness program from February to May, and then enter a trades-training program of their choice in the fall. The program will also help the women find work after their training is complete. Source: Provincial Press Release
Westwood Primary School is in the process of adding on a new $2.3 million addition to its school. The 15,000 square foot addition includes 11 kindergarten classrooms, two Grade 1 classrooms, a Reading Recovery centre, teacher planning rooms, offices, washrooms and a fenced courtyard playground. Source: Provincial Press Release
Funding in the amount of $2.1 million has been approved to add kindergarten classrooms at L.M. Montgomery, West Royalty, and Sherwood elementary schools. The additional classrooms will address increasing enrolments at these schools due to the introduction of kindergarten and changing demographics. Source: Provincial Press Release
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Province of Prince Edward Island and the PEI Atlantic Shrimp Corporation will provide $2.2 million to the PEI Seafood Processors Association to invest in two projects. The first project funds industry leaders to work with the Food Technology Centre and Holland College over the next year to develop four to six new products, which will benefit the entire lobster industry. The second is to seek new innovation in processing techniques and equipment to assist lobster processors with lowering production costs and increasing labour productivity. Source: Provincial Press Release
Under the Rural Action Plan, more than 12 jobs in the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal are being relocated to Tignish. Up to seven full-time jobs will be created in Tignish. The department's central financial administration will also be relocated to Tignish, providing full-time employment for 6 people. The relocation is expected to be completed by the fall of 2010. Source: Provincial Press Release
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