The Canadian job market is beginning to show signs of recovery, according to the latest data released from Statistics Canada.
This month’s labour force survey showed that the unemployment rate held steady at a five-year low of 6.9 percent, while over 13,000 new jobs were created.
While the steady numbers came as good news to some, other economic analysts say the figures are masking other more disconcerting trends under the surface. The manufacturing sector, for instance, is losing record numbers of jobs, according to the survey.
Additionally, the jobs being created are more likely to be low-skilled and low-paying employment, with most new positions arising in the health-care, accommodation, and service sectors.
Employers in Alberta and Saskatchewan have increased their recruitment efforts in places like Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, according to Workopolis.com president Kelly Dixon. This reflects the continued trend of growth in the Prairie provinces, as well as the high unemployment rates in the Eastern Maritime provinces, where workers are more likely to relocate for jobs.
The health care sector’s growth is being attributed to Canada’s aging population, while gains in construction are mostly fuelled by government stimulus initiatives, though some experts point to a hot housing market in recent years.
Source: Globe and Mail