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Labour market stalls across Canada, mixed message in P.A.

May 11, 2018 | 2:00 PM

The country posted a slight net loss of 1,100 jobs in April, holding the nation’s unemployment rate steady at 5.8 per cent.

The losses, according to Statistics Canada’s monthly data dump, come through part-time labour positions. The agency said the economy produced around 28,800 full-time jobs while shedding around 30,000 part-time jobs.

More people worked in professional, scientific and technical services, as well as in accommodation and food services. In contrast, employment declined in wholesale and retail trade and in construction.

On a year-over-year basis, employment in Canada remains up by 1.5 per cent or 278,000 positions. This comes thanks to gains in full-time work. In the 12 months leading up to April, total hours worked were up 1.9 per cent.

Employment decreased among youth aged 15 to 24. At the same time, work increased for core-aged women 25 to 54.

This, however, is only the second time since mid-2016 that Canada has not added new positions. Wage growth has also reached its highest level in nearly six years. Numbers released Friday show the average hourly wage last month was 3.6 per cent higher than it was one year ago. 

This is a key indicator monitored by the Bank of Canada ahead of its interest-rate decisions. The central bank’s next policy decision is scheduled for May 30. Many analysts predict governor Stephen Poloz will wait until the bank’s July meeting before raising the rate, which would be his fourth since last July.

Provincially, employment rose in Manitoba and Nova Scotia, while it declined in Saskatchewan. It was little changed elsewhere. There were 4,900 fewer people employed here in the province in April, according to the agency. This pushed the unemployment rate up 0.5 percentage points to 6.3 per cent. In Regina, the unemployment rate ticked up from 5 to 5.7 per cent. Saskatoon saw a minor increase from 6.5 to 6.7 per cent.

In Prince Albert, year-over-year, the unemployment rate remains down drastically. In April 2018, the city’s unemployment rate was 7.1 per cent, down from 11.5 per cent this time last year. However, the size of the city’s labour force continues to shrink, and those participating — which includes both those working and those looking for work — is also down significantly. In April 2018, the participation rate was 65.5 per cent, down from 66.8 12 months earlier. The overall labour force has also fallen from 22,700 in April 2017 to just 22,400 last month.

— With files from the Canadian Press

 

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JounroMarr