StatsCan says Canadian economy added nearly 1-M jobs as reopening continues

Of this latest figure, 488,000 are full-time jobs, while the other 465,000 are part-time. (File photo: @charles/Unsplash)

As more businesses in Canada get back on their feet due to the easing of restrictions the country implemented against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the economy gained almost one million jobs last month, Statistics Canada reported on Friday, July 10.

In its Labour Force Survey (LFS), the agency said Canada added 953,000 jobs, in addition to the 290,000 jobs it obtained in May. Of this latest figure, 488,000 are full-time jobs, while the other 465,000 are part-time.

Employment in all Canadian provinces increased in June, gaining 378,000 jobs in Ontario, 248,000 in Quebec, 118,000 in British Columbia, 30,000 in Saskatchewan, 92,000 in Alberta, 29,000 in Manitoba and Nova Scotia, 22,000 in New Brunswick, 6,000 in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 1,700 in Prince Edward Island.

Although Canada sees an increase in jobs, Statistics Canada said employment in June was still 1.8 million lower than in February.

Meanwhile, the country’s employment rate dropped to 12.3 percent, a 1.4 percentage points decline from the previous record-high of 13.

7 percent recorded in May.

The agency, however, noted that even though this is the “largest monthly decline on record,” June’s unemployment rate was still higher than February’s 5.6 percent.

It added that June’s unemployment rate would have been at 16.3 percent if the number of Canadians who wanted to work but did not look for a job was counted.

The survey showed that women have a higher unemployment rate, at 12.

7 percent, compared to men which was at 12.1 percent. The labor participation rate among men also rose to 90.3 percent, while it jumped to 82.0 percent among women.

Commenting on the LFS, federal Employment Minister Carla Qualthrough said in a statement that the number of jobs the economy gained in June was a proof that the government’s plan was “working,” but stressed that Canada has still “a long way to go” during this pandemic.

“Many Canadians continue to face real challenges during this time and we will continue to be there for them,” she said.

My statement on today’s job numbers ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/f59VgZrgEF

— Carla Qualtrough (@CQualtro) July 10, 2020