Canada Labor Force Survey July 2015

Employment was little changed in July (+6,600 or 0.0%) and the unemployment rate remained at 6.8% for the sixth consecutive month.

Compared with 12 months earlier, employment increased by 161,000 or 0.9%, the result of more full-time work. Over the same period, the total number of hours worked rose 1.2%.

In July, employment increased among men aged 25 to 54, while there was little change among the other demographic groups.

Provincially, employment rose in Quebec and Nova Scotia. At the same time, there were declines in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island.

Employment was up in professional, scientific and technical services as well as public administration. There were fewer people working in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing.

The number of self-employed workers rose in July, while there was little change among public and private sector employees.

Provincial summary

Employment in Quebec increased by 22,000 in July, lowering the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points to 7.7%. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in the province was up by 44,000 or 1.1%.

In Nova Scotia, employment rose by 3,100. The unemployment rate was little changed at 8.1% as a result of more people participating in the labour market. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the province was virtually unchanged.

Employment in Saskatchewan declined by 7,400 in July, and the unemployment rate increased 0.5 percentage points to 5.2%. With this decline, employment in the province was virtually unchanged compared with 12 months earlier.

In Manitoba, there were 3,800 fewer people working in July, and the unemployment rate increased 0.3 percentage points to 5.6%. Compared with July 2014, employment in the province was up by 6,000 or 1.0%.

Employment in Prince Edward Island fell by 800 in July. On a year-over-year basis, there were 1,900 fewer people working in the province and the unemployment rate increased 2.3 percentage points to 11.6%.

Employment in Ontario was unchanged in July. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in the province was up by 67,000 (+1.0%) and the unemployment rate fell 1.1 percentage points to 6.4%, the lowest rate since September 2008.

Despite little change in the level of employment in Alberta, the unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points to 6.0% in July as more people searched for work. Since January, the unemployment rate in the province has increased by 1.5 percentage points.

Industry perspective

In July, there were 19,000 more people employed in professional, scientific and technical services. Employment in this industry was up by 38,000 (+2.8%) compared with 12 months earlier.

Employment in public administration rose by 9,000. However, on a year-over-year basis, employment in this industry was down by 20,000 (-2.1%).

Employment fell by 10,000 in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing in July. Despite this decline, employment in the industry was up by 31,000 (+2.9%) compared with 12 months earlier.

The number of self-employed workers increased by 41,000 in July, contributing to a year-over-year increase of 57,000 or 2.1%.

The number of employees in both the public and private sector was little changed in July. On a year-over-year basis, employment rose by 75,000 or 0.7% in the private sector, while it was little changed in the public sector.

Summer employment for students

From May to August, the Labour Force Survey collects labour market data about youths aged 15 to 24 who attended school full time in March, and who intended to return full time in the fall. The published data are not seasonally adjusted; therefore, comparisons can only be made on a year-over-year basis.

Employment among students aged 20 to 24 edged down by 21,000 compared with 12 months earlier. Their unemployment rate was 8.2%, unchanged from July 2014, but down 1.5 percentage points from July 2013.

Among 17- to-19-year-old students, there was little change in employment compared with July 2014. Their unemployment rate was virtually unchanged at 16.9%.

Over the same period, there was little change in employment among students aged 15 and 16. Their unemployment rate rose 2.8 percentage points to 30.2% compared with July 2014, as more of them searched for work. This rate is similar to the rate observed two years earlier.

Stats Canada

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