Canada sees strong job creation in November
The Canadian economy had a much better month for job creation in November than it did in October. The unemployment rate dropped to 7.2% last month with the addition of 59,300 full-time jobs according to Statistics Canada. In October the country overall saw less than 2,000 jobs created.
Year over year, the Canadian economy has added 294,000 mostly full-time jobs, and employment is up by 1.7%. November’s solid job growth of almost 60,000 new jobs is significantly more than most economists had been predicting.
Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island all saw job gains in November, while there was little change in the other provinces.
Employment among young people from 15 to 24 years of age was also up by 16,000 jobs last month, and bringing their unemployment rate down to a level 14.0%, still twice the national average.
Industry breakdown:
There were more people working in accommodation and food services last month, up by 28,000 jobs, bringing employment in this industry back up to where it was one year ago.
Employment was also up in retail and wholesale trade with 25,000 more jobs in November. These increases were largely balanced out by declines seen earlier in the year, which also leaves employment in this industry roughly where it was in November 2011.
There were more people working in professional, scientific and technical services in November, up 23,000, and employment in agriculture was also up by 9,000 jobs.
After five relatively static months, the number of people working in manufacturing was down by 20,000 in November. Despite this decrease, the number of factory workers was still up by 4.1% on a year-over-year basis.
