Employment in August increased by 12,000 from July. The unemployment rate was 7.0%, up from 6.8% in July. Construction employment was down 0.3% from July while manufacturing employment fell by 0.2% from a month earlier.
In August, employment stood at 18.0 million, up 1.1% from August 2014. Full-time employment grew by 54,400 from July, while part-time employment fell by 42,400 from the previous month. Full time employment was up by 317,900 from August 2014, while part-time employment fell by 124,500 over the same period.
Employment over the past year grew in eight provinces. Alberta and British Columbia, both with a 1.8% annualized growth rate, led the way. The employment growth rate in Quebec was 1.0% and in Ontario was 0.9%.. Employment from a year earlier was down most in Prince Edward Island (-3.0%) followed by New Brunswick (-0.9%).
Total employment gains of 63,900 have occurred on Ontario since August 2014. Its unemployment rate in August was 6.8%, up from 6.4% in July. Quebec’s total employment increase since August 2014 was 40,000. Its unemployment rate in August was 8.0%, up from 7.7% in July.
Since August 2014, employment in the goods-producing sector was down by 0.2% and in the services-producing sector grew by 1.4%.
The construction industry lost 3,600 jobs in August over July, bringing total construction employment to 1,359,600 which is a decrease of 8,800 from August 2014. Total manufacturing employment was down 3,200 from July to 1,705,200 jobs. This was an increase of 8,900 positions (0.5%) from August 2014.
The number of people working in retail and wholesale trade was up 1,300 in August from July and totaled 2,739,300. That was an increase of 0.1% from August 2014.
Employment among adult women, aged 25 and over, was up 85,800 in August 2015 over August 2014 and increased by 15,600 from July. Their unemployment rate was 5.4%. Employment among adult men was up 116,100 in August 2015 over August 2014 but fell by 3,500 from July. Their unemployment rate was 6.3%. Employment among youths (15 – 24 years of age) was down 8,500 since August 2014 and declined by 200 from July. Their unemployment rate was 13.1%.
In August, private sector employment was up 6,300 from July and increased by 124,300 from August 2014. Self-employment fell by 21,600 in August over July but increased by 1,700 from August 2014. Public sector employment was up 27,200 from July and grew by 67,200 from August 2014. Total private sector employment in August was 11, 589,200; self-employment was 2,746,600.