Canadian Employment Increased in April; Unemployment Continued to Hold Steady

Statistics Canada (StatCan) reported Friday (5-5-23) that employment in Canada increased by 41,000 jobs, or 0.2%, in April. Since February 2023, monthly employment growth has averaged 33,000, following a cumulative increase of 219,000 in December 2022 and January 2023.

StatsCan is reporting that in April, job growth was widespread, with notable growth occurring in the following:

• Employment in the wholesale and retail trade rose by 24,000, or 0.8%. Employment gains in the industry in 2023 have partially offset a net decline of 145,000 from May to December 2022.
• Transportation and warehousing increased by 17,000, or 1.6%, building on a notable increase in March of 41,000, or 4.2%. Compared to a year ago (April 2022), employment in the sector was up 47,000, or 4.7%.
• Employment in information, culture, and recreation rose 16,000, or 1.9%. Compared with the recent low in October 2022, employment in the sector was up 58,000, or 7.3%.
• Educational service employment increased by 15,000, or 1.0%. Employment in the sector has trended higher since August 2022, with a cumulative gain of 71,000 during the time period.

According to StatCan data, there were fewer people working in business, building, and other support services, with 14,000 less jobs—or a 1.9% reduction.

The unemployment rate was 5.0% in April, unchanged since December 2022. The April unemployment level remains near the record low of 4.9% observed in June and July 2022. Compared with April 2022, the unemployment rate was down 0.3% in April.

The number of unemployed persons was reported as 1.1 million, with a majority (64.3%) having been unemployed for 13 weeks or less. The proportion who had been unemployed for 27 weeks or more—the long term unemployed—was at 15.4%, down from 19.5% in April 2022 and in close alignment with the pre-pandemic portion of 15.3% in February 2020.