Prince Edward Island Labour Market Brief
May 2011
| Monthly Variation | Yearly Variation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonally Adjusted Monthly Data | May 2011 | April 2011 | May 2010 | Level | Percent | Level | Percent |
| Population 15+ | 119.1 | 118.8 | 116.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| Labour Force | 81.0 | 80.5 | 78.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 |
| Employment | 71.5 | 71.5 | 70.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
| Full-Time | 59.0 | 59.3 | 57.6 | -0.3 | -0.5 | 1.4 | 2.4 |
| Part-Time | 12.5 | 12.1 | 12.6 | 0.4 | 3.3 | -0.1 | -0.8 |
| Unemployment | 9.6 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 0.6 | 6.7 | 1.1 | 12.9 |
| Participate Rate (%) | 68.0 | 67.8 | 67.4 | 0.2 | - | -0.6 | - |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 11.9 | 11.2 | 10.8 | 0.7 | - | 1.1 | - |
| Employment Rate (%) | 60.0 | 60.2 | 60.1 | -0.2 | - | -0.1 | - |
| 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. There were more people looking for work in May however no additional jobs were filled which resulted in higher unemployment. The Island labour force edged up by 0.6% while the level of employment remained unchanged. As a result, the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 of a percentage point to 11.9%. The participation rate for the province rose slightly to 68% with more people looking for work.
The labour force totalled 81,000 in May 2011, which is up by nearly 3% over the previous year. Employment was about 2% higher compared to May 2010 and the entire growth was concentrated in full-time work.
Over the past year, labour force growth outpaced employment growth which resulted in more people actively looking for work. The level of unemployment rose in PEI by 1,100 (or 13%); and the unemployment rate was 1.1 percentage points higher on a year-over-year basis.
Adult women (persons 25 years and over) experienced the greatest year-over-year increase in unemployment relative to men. The unemployment rate for women rose to 9.6% (+1.1); and for men, increased by 0.3 of a percentage point to 11.8%.
With more people participating in the labour force, the Island participation rate rose to 68% in May 2011, up by 0.6 of a percentage point compared to the previous year. Nationally, the participation rate averaged 66.8% in May.
| Monthly Variation | Yearly Variation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2011 | April 2011 | May 2010 | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Total | 71.5 | 71.5 | 70.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
| Goods Producing Sector | 17.3 | 17.8 | 16.5 | -0.5 | -2.8 | 0.8 | 4.8 |
| Agriculture | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.4 | -0.2 | -5.4 | 0.1 | 2.9 |
| Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas | 3.2 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 18.5 |
| Utilities | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Construction | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.0 | -0.3 | -5.6 | 0.1 | 2.0 |
| Manufacturing | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.0 | -0.3 | -5.6 | 0.1 | 2.0 |
| Service Producing Sector | 54.1 | 53.6 | 53.7 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| Trade | 10.1 | 9.8 | 11.0 | 0.3 | 3.1 | -0.9 | -8.2 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 9.5 | 0.2 | 9.5 |
| Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 8.0 | 0.1 | 3.8 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2.9 | 3.3 | 2.6 | -0.4 | -12.1 | 0.3 | 11.5 |
| Management, Administrative and other support services | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Educational Services | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.0 | -0.2 | -3.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 |
| Health care and social assistance | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.2 | -0.1 | -1.2 | 0.3 | 3.7 |
| Information culture and recreation | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.3 | -0.3 | -10.3 | 0.3 | 13.0 |
| Accommodations and food services | 5.8 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 0.4 | 7.4 | 0.7 | 13.7 |
| Other Services | 3.0 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 7.1 | -0.2 | -6.3 |
| 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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All of the month-to-month employment gains occurred in the services-producing sector (+500) while goods-sector employment declined by the same amount. Both construction and manufacturing experienced declines in May, however month-to-month employment losses were moderated by higher employment in tourism-sensitive industries (i.e. trade and accommodation/food services).
On a year-over-year basis, employment levels in the goods-sector rose by 800 and service-sector employment increased by 400.
Goods-producing sector
- There were 17,300 persons employed in the goods-sector in May 2011, which is up by nearly 5% compared to the previous year.
- There was a marginal increase in the employment bases for construction and manufacturing year-over-year, however most of the gain in this sector occurred in other primary industries (i.e. fishing and forestry).
- Growth in the forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas industry could also be attributed to workers who have left the province to work in the oil and gas sector in the Western provinces.
Services-producing sector
- The number of persons employed in the Island's service-sector rose slightly on a year-over-year basis to 54,100.
- Two major Island industries experienced reduced employment levels in May 2011: the trade industry (retail is the Island's largest private sector employer) experienced an 8.2% decline in workers compared to a year ago; and employment in public administration fell by over 6%.
- Year-over-year employment growth in accommodation and food services (+13.7%); and in health care and social assistance (+3.7%) helped to offset the declines in this sector.
Prepared by: Labour Market and Socio-economic Information Directorate, Maritime Region
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