CBJ.ca - The Canadian Business Journal: Canadian unemployment reports slight decrease

Canadian unemployment reports slight decrease
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CBJ - June 10 - Employment rose by 22,000 in May, bringing gains over the
previous 12 months to 273,000 (up 1.6 per cent). The employment increase in May,
combined with a decline in the number of people looking for work, pushed the
unemployment rate down 0.2 percentage points to 7.4 per cent.
Employment increased in Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan in May. At the same
time, employment declined in Newfoundland and Labrador, while there was little
change in the remaining provinces.
Employment gains were in retail and wholesale trade as well as in information,
culture and recreation, while declines were reported in educational services and
manufacturing.
The number of private sector employees and self-employed workers rose in May. At
the same time, there were declines among public sector employees.
Full-time employment increased by 33,000 in May. Over the past 12 months,
full-time employment rose by 224,000, up 1.6 per cent, while part time was up
50,000, increasing 1.5 per cent.
Employment was up mainly among men aged 25 to 54, while it changed little among
the other demographic groups. The unemployment rate for students aged 20 to 24,
at 15 per cent, was lower in May compared with May 2010.
Employment in trade increased by 34,000 in May, offsetting declines in the
previous two months. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in this
industry was down 0.7 per cent, or 19,000.
Following steady increases in the first four months of the year, employment in
educational services declined by 27,000 in May. Most of the declines occurred in
post-secondary institutions.
Employment in Quebec rose by 25,000 in May, bringing total gains over the past
12 months to 74,000, or up 1.9 per cent. The unemployment rate fell 0.5
percentage points to 7.3 per cent, the lowest since October 2008.
Employment increased by 8,500 in Alberta. The unemployment rate fell to 5.4 per
cent, down 0.5 percentage points from the previous month. Over the previous 12
months, employment grew by 2.8 per cent, the fastest growth rate in the country.