Labour Force Survey – February 2010

Employment rose by 21,000 in February, with large gains in full-time work partly offset by losses in part time. The unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage points to 8.2% in
February.

Employment has been on an upward trend since July 2009 (+159,000). This contrasts with the sharp drop of 417,000 between the peak in October 2008 and July 2009.

Underlying February’s employment change was a notable gain in full-time work (+60,000), which was partially offset by a decline in part time (-39,000). Since the summer of 2009, employment growth has been all in full time.

Men aged 55 and over accounted for all of February’s employment gain.

February’s increase was among public sector employees (+46,000). Compared with the summer of 2009, the number of public and private sector employees has risen, while self-employment has edged down.

Employment increases in February occurred in accommodation and food services; business, building and other support services; manufacturing; health care and social assistance; and natural resources. These gains were partially offset by losses in retail and wholesale trade; finance, insurance, real estate and leasing; and "other services.

In February, employment increased in British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, while it declined in Alberta. There was little change in the other provinces.

Employment for men and women aged 55 and over has been trending up for a number of years, the result of employment growth combined with more people moving into that age group.

Continued growth in natural resources
Within the goods sector, employment increased in manufacturing (+17,000) and natural resources (+11,000) in February. Following declines throughout the labour market downturn, natural resources has experienced employment growth since the early fall of 2009, while manufacturing employment has been stable.

In the service sector, the largest employment increases in February occurred in accommodation and food services (+27,000); business, building and other support services (+18,000); as well as in health care and social assistance (+16,000).

You can find more details at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/100312/dq100312a-eng.htm