Jobless Rate Down In Most Maritime Cities, Hits Record Low Across Canada
HALIFAX–Canada’s unemployment rate reached a new record low of 5.1 percent in May, according to Statistics Canada. It was the third consecutive month that the unemployment rate reached a new record low in Canada.
The agency’s latest labour force survey, released June 10, said total employment rose by 40,000, or 0.2 percent. Figures showed full-time work increased by 135,000, while part-time employment dropped by 96,000.
The employment increase was driven by gains in full-time work among young and core-aged women and was spread across several industries, led by wholesale and retail trade, Statistics Canada said.
Across the country, employment increased in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Alberta. It decreased in New Brunswick and was little changed in all other provinces.
Employment in New Brunswick dropped by 3,900, partially offsetting gains in March and April. Full-time work was down by 1,600 while part-time employment dropped by 2,400. The province’s unemployment rate edged up to 7.1 percent.
In Moncton, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 5 percent in April to 4.7 percent in May. Saint John, meanwhile, saw unemployment tick up slightly, from 7.1 percent in April to 7.2 percent in May. Statistics Canada does not release data specific to Fredericton.
In Nova Scotia, the unemployment rate jumped to 6.7 percent from six percent the month before. Full-time work increased by 1,000 while part-time employment dropped by 3,100, leading to a net decrease of 2,100.
Halifax also saw its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fall, from 4.9 percent in April to 4.7 percent in May.
Prince Edward Island saw its employment numbers rise by 1,100 as the unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent from 7.1 percent in April.
Compared to this time last year, the unemployment rate is down in all three Maritime provinces, ranging from 1.3 percentage points in Prince Edward Island to 1.8 percentage points in New Brunswick and 2.9 percentage points in Nova Scotia.
Brad Perry is the news director with CHSJ/Country 94, Huddle content partners.