Statistics Canada has just released the latest employment numbers. Here’s where the jobs are (and aren’t) right now.
The country’s unemployment rate dropped in April to its lowest level since before the 2008 recession. According to Statistics Canada, the current unemployment rate is 6.5 per cent, down 0.6 per cent from this time last year.
Over the past twelve months, Canada added 277,000 jobs, most of which (189,600) were full-time positions. More people were working in educational services, health care and social assistance, and transportation and warehousing last month. At the same time, employment declined in business, building and other support services, as well as in accommodation and food services.
Newfoundland continues to have the highest unemployment rate of all the provinces. British Columbia has the lowest.
Provincial unemployment rates:
- Newfoundland and Labrador 14.0 per cent
- Prince Edward Island 10.3
- Nova Scotia 8.3
- New Brunswick 8.7
- Quebec 6.6
- Ontario 5.8
- Manitoba 5.4
- Saskatchewan 6.2
- Alberta 7.9
- British Columbia 5.5
The country’s largest city, Toronto has an estimated 6.9 per cent unemployment rate.
The latest Labour Force Survey from Stats Can also pointed out that wage growth has stalled to its weakest level in over twenty years. Wages have increased by just 0.7 per cent year-over-year, which is actually the slowest growth noted since Stats Can started collecting that data. The current national average wage is just over $50k or $50,291.80. Here’s a look at the average Canadian salaries by province and industry.
We recently looked at the most and least favourable career paths to be in right now. It’s a grim time to be looking for work in journalism and media, but prospects are bright for people who study math. Here are the ten best and worst jobs of 2017 for salary, working conditions, and outlook.
