Labour Force Survey January 2010

Employment increased by 43,000 in January, all in part time, pushing the unemployment rate down 0.1 percentage points to 8.3%. January marks the fourth employment gain in six months.

Despite the recent increases, employment still remains 280,000 below the level of October 2008.

Employment gains in January were driven by women aged 25 to 54 and youths. This was the first notable increase for youths since the start of the employment downturn in the fall of 2008.

There were large increases in part-time employment in January, bringing it back to the level of six months earlier. Full-time employment was little changed in January, but has trended up over the last six months.

January’s increase was among private sector employees, while self-employment declined. Over the last six months, the number of private and public sector employees has been rising while self-employment has been little changed.

The largest employment increases in January occurred in business, building and other support services, and retail and wholesale trade. These were partially offset by losses in professional, scientific, and technical services, as well as agriculture.

Ontario accounted for more than half of the employment gains in January, followed by British Columbia and Manitoba. Employment declined in Nova Scotia while it was unchanged in all other provinces.

Employment gains among core-aged women and youths
The increase in employment in January affected mainly women aged 25 to 54 and youths. Employment for youths increased 29,000, pushing the unemployment rate down from 16.0% to 15.1%. This was the first notable employment increase for youths since the start of the downturn in the fall of 2008.

Gains in business, building and other support services
There was an increase of 34,000 in business, building and other support services in January, offsetting the decline in December. Despite January’s increase, the industry has been on a downward trend since the summer of 2009.

Gains in Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba
Employment in Ontario was up by 30,000 in January. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.2% as more people participated in the labour market. Since July, employment in the province has been on a slight upward trend (+51,000).

Employment in British Columbia increased by 12,000 in January, continuing on the upward trend that began in July 2009 (+32,000). The unemployment rate in January edged down 0.2 percentage points to 8.1%.

Following a large loss in December, employment in Manitoba increased by 8,000. The unemployment rate declined 0.4 percentage points to 5.4%.

You can find more details at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/subjects-sujets/labour-travail/lfs-epa/lfs-epa-eng.htm