Labour Market Bulletin - May 2010
Labour Force Trends - Employment up in May
- Both the labour force and employment declined from April to May 2010
- Compared to this period a year ago, labour market indicators showed some improvements on the Island.
| Monthly Variation |
Yearly Variation |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Seasonally Adjusted) | May 2010 |
April 2010 |
May 2009 |
Number | % | Number | % |
| Population 15+ ('000) | 116.9 | 116.8 | 115.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 0.9 |
| Labour Force ('000) | 79.2 | 80.2 | 79.0 | -1.0 | -1.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Employment ('000) | 70.7 | 72.6 | 68.9 | -1.9 | -2.6 | 1.8 | 2.6 |
| - Employment full-time ('000) | 58.3 | 60.2 | 57.9 | -1.9 | -3.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| - Employment part-time ('000) | 12.5 | 12.3 | 11.0 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 13.6 |
| Unemployment ('000) | 8.5 | 7.6 | 10.1 | 0.9 | 11.8 | -1.6 | -15.8 |
| Participation Rate (%) | 67.8 | 68.7 | 68.2 | -0.9 | -0.4 | ||
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 10.7 | 9.5 | 12.8 | 1.2 | -2.1 | ||
| Employment Rate (%) | 60.5 | 62.2 | 59.5 | -1.7 | 1.0 | ||
Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey
- Full-time and part-time employment levels were up compared to last year, and total employment increased by 2.6%.
- Employment for males and females increased by 3.8% and 2.0% respectively over the last year. The increase in employment for males was primarily in full-time jobs, although there was a slight increase in part-time work as well. On the other hand, the increase for females occurred primarily in part-time employment, with a slight increase in full-time jobs.
- Although the participation rate declined on the Island since May, 2009, it continues to rank among the highest in the country. In May 2010, the participation rate was the highest in the Atlantic region and the fourth highest in the country.
- The youth labour force declined by 500 over the last year, while employment increased by 400. Full-time employment for youth decreased by 300, while there was a slight increase (+100) in part-time employment.
Employment by Industry: Trade leads employment growth in services-producing sector.
There were 16,300 persons employed in the goods-producing sector in May 2010; down by 200 compared to last year.
- There were year-over-year employment losses in agriculture (-100) and; manufacturing (-800), while the other goods-producing industries increased by a total of 900 jobs.
- Females lost more jobs in the goods-producing sector than their male counterparts. The female job loss was primarily in manufacturing.
The level of employment in the services-producing sector was 54,400 in May 2010, up slightly compared to the previous year.
- There were job losses in management, administrative and other support (-100); information, culture and recreation (-300); accommodation and food services (-1,400) and; public administration (-400).
- Gains in all other service-producing industries totalled 3,900, more than offsetting employment losses in this sector. Trade showed the largest increase in employment (+1,600).
- Within the service-producing industries, females gained jobs primarily in trade; health care and; public administration, while the largest employment gains for males were in education; trade and; professional, scientific and technical services.
| Monthly Variation |
Yearly Variation |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonally Adjusted Data ('000) |
May 2010 | April 2010 | May 2009 | Absolute | % | Absolute | % |
| Total | 70.7 | 72.6 | 68.9 | -1.9 | -2.6 | 1.8 | 2.6 |
| Goods-Producing Sector | 16.3 | 17.2 | 16.5 | -0.9 | -5.2 | -0.2 | -1.2 |
| Agriculture | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.1 | -2.8 |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.2 | -0.2 | -7.1 | 0.4 | 18.2 |
| Utilities | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 0.2 | 100 |
| Construction | 5.0 | 5.3 | 4.7 | -0.3 | -5.7 | 0.3 | 6.4 |
| Manufacturing | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.8 | -0.3 | -5.7 | -0.8 | -13.8 |
| Services-Producing Sector | 54.4 | 55.3 | 52.4 | -0.9 | -1.6 | 2.0 | 3.8 |
| Trade | 11.3 | 11.4 | 9.7 | -0.1 | -0.9 | 1.6 | 16.5 |
| Transportation & warehousing | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.1 | -0.2 | -8.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 8.3 | 0.2 | 8.3 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.0 | -0.1 | -3.7 | 0.6 | 30.0 |
| Management, Administrative & Other Services | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.7 | -0.2 | -7.1 | -0.1 | -3.7 |
| Educational services | 6.1 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 19.6 |
| Health care & social assistance | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8.0 | -0.3 | -3.5 | 0.3 | 3.8 |
| Information, culture and recreation | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.5 | -0.2 | -8.3 | -0.3 | -12.0 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5.3 | 5.4 | 6.7 | -0.1 | -1.9 | -1.4 | -20.9 |
| Other Services | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 6.5 |
| Public Administration | 7.9 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.4 | -4.8 |
Totals may not add due to rounding.
Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey
Prepared by: Labour Market and Socio-economic Information Directorate, Maritime Region
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