Friday, November 7, 2008 Released at 7:00 a.m. Eastern time in The Daily

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Following a large gain the month before, employment was little changed in October as an increase in full-time work was mostly offset by losses in part time. The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 6.2%, driven by an increase in the number of people looking for work.

Since the beginning of 2008, employment has increased 1.2% (+203,000), with gains in both full and part time. Employment rose by 2.0% (+338,000) over the same period of 2007, most of which was full time.

In October, employment increased in Alberta, where the unemployment rate remained the lowest in the country, at 3.7%. There was little employment change in the other provinces.

Strong employment growth in public administration in October was spurred by hiring for the federal election. At the same time, employment declined in accommodation and food services. There was little change for all other industries.

A large decline in youth employment in October was offset by strong gains among women aged 55 and over and men aged 25 to 54. So far this year, older women have had the fastest growth rate in employment.

Note to readers Please note that Table 1 in the publication Labour Force Information has been extended to include labour force characteristics for men and women aged 25 to 54 years and 55 years and over at the Canada level. The Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates are based on a sample, and are therefore subject to sampling variability. Estimates for smaller geographic areas or industries will have more variability. For an explanation of sampling variability of estimates, and how to use standard errors to assess this variability, consult the "Data quality" section of the publication Labour Force Information (71-001-XWE, free).

The year-over-year growth in average hourly wages for October was 4.3%, above the most recent increase of 3.4% in the Consumer Price Index. Compared with a year earlier, average hourly wages were higher for all age groups, with growth being strongest for youths and older workers.

Public administration employment growth was strong in October

With the federal election in mid-October, there were large employment gains in public administration (+40,000), spread across most provinces. Most of the increase was among occupations related to the election process.

Also in October, employment in accommodation and food services declined by 27,000, mostly in food services and drinking places. The bulk of these losses were in Ontario and Quebec.

Solid employment gains in Alberta

Employment in Alberta rose by 15,000 in October, pushing the employment rate to 72.5%, the highest on record. Since the beginning of 2008, industries with the largest gains have been professional, scientific and technical services; manufacturing; construction; trade; and agriculture. So far this year, Alberta's employment growth has been 2.2%, compared with 3.5% over the first 10 months of 2007.

In New Brunswick, employment edged up in October. However, the unemployment rate jumped 0.8 percentage points to 8.8%, as a large increase in the number of people looking for work brought the participation rate to an all-time high of 65.4%.

With Quebec's overall employment little changed in October, the unemployment rate edged down to 7.2%. So far this year, employment growth has been negligible at 0.2% (+7,000), as increases in information, culture and recreation; health care and social assistance; construction; and manufacturing were offset by declines in agriculture; education; and other services.

Although Ontario's employment was unchanged in October, so far this year, it is up 1.5% (+101,000), slightly above the national growth rate of 1.2%. Gains over the first 10 months of the year were in transportation and warehousing; construction; and public administration. Manufacturing is down 14,000 so far in 2008, compared with a decline of 43,000 over the same period of 2007. The unemployment rate edged up to 6.5% in October, little changed from the beginning of 2008.

In British Columbia, employment edged down in October, pushing the unemployment rate up 0.5 percentage points to 5.1%, the highest since December 2006. So far this year, employment growth stands at 0.8%, below the national average.

Employment increases for core-age men and older women offset by a large drop in youth employment

Women aged 55 and older experienced a large gain in employment for October (+25,000). While these women represent less than 1 out of every 14 employed people, so far this year they account for a third of all employment gains. With year-to-date gains of 64,000, older women had a larger increase in employment than other demographic groups such as youth, core-age men, core-age women and men aged 55 and older.

Employment among men aged 25 to 54 rose by 20,000 in October. Following large gains the month before, youth employment fell by 34,000 in October, as losses in part-time work more than offset gains in full time.

Available on CANSIM: tables 282-0001 to 282-0042, 282-0047 to 282-0064 and 282-0069 to 282-0099.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3701.

A more detailed summary, Labour Force Information (71-001-XWE, free), is now available online for the week ending October 18. From the Publications module of our website, under Free Internet publications, choose Labour. LAN and bulk prices are available on request. The CD-ROM Labour Force Historical Review, 2007 (71F0004XCB, $209) is now available.

Data tables are also now available online. From the By subject module of our website, choose Labour.

The next release of the Labour Force Survey will be on December 5.

For more information, or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-873-8788; 613-951-4090; labour@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact, Danielle Zietsma (613-951-4243; danielle.zietsma@statcan.gc.ca), or Jeannine Usalcas (613-951-4720; jeannine.usalcas@statcan.gc.ca), Labour Statistics Division.

Labour force characteristics by age and sex
	September 2008	October 2008	September to October 2008	October 2007 to October 2008	September to October 2008	October 2007 to October 2008
	Seasonally adjusted
	thousands		change in thousands		% change
Both sexes 15+
Population	27,012.8	27,044.1	31.3	380.9	0.1	1.4
Labour force	18,325.6	18,355.5	29.9	310.6	0.2	1.7
Employment	17,206.3	17,215.8	9.5	223.3	0.1	1.3
Full-time	13,977.3	14,024.8	47.5	125.4	0.3	0.9
Part-time	3,229.0	3,190.9	-38.1	97.8	-1.2	3.2
Unemployment	1,119.3	1,139.7	20.4	87.3	1.8	8.3
Participation rate	67.8	67.9	0.1	0.2	...	...
Unemployment rate	6.1	6.2	0.1	0.4	...	...
Employment rate	63.7	63.7	0.0	0.0	...	...
Part-time rate	18.8	18.5	-0.3	0.3	...	...
Youths 15 to 24
Population	4,380.1	4,381.9	1.8	18.8	0.0	0.4
Labour force	2,963.8	2,965.4	1.6	45.9	0.1	1.6
Employment	2,643.0	2,608.6	-34.4	16.7	-1.3	0.6
Full-time	1,426.6	1,445.6	19.0	22.4	1.3	1.6
Part-time	1,216.3	1,163.0	-53.3	-5.7	-4.4	-0.5
Unemployment	320.8	356.9	36.1	29.2	11.3	8.9
Participation rate	67.7	67.7	0.0	0.8	...	...
Unemployment rate	10.8	12.0	1.2	0.8	...	...
Employment rate	60.3	59.5	-0.8	0.1	...	...
Part-time rate	46.0	44.6	-1.4	-0.5	...	...
Men 25+
Population	11,061.5	11,076.6	15.1	182.5	0.1	1.7
Labour force	8,180.6	8,196.5	15.9	144.9	0.2	1.8
Employment	7,732.1	7,748.9	16.8	118.2	0.2	1.5
Full-time	7,185.0	7,179.9	-5.1	37.6	-0.1	0.5
Part-time	547.1	569.0	21.9	80.6	4.0	16.5
Unemployment	448.5	447.6	-0.9	26.7	-0.2	6.3
Participation rate	74.0	74.0	0.0	0.1	...	...
Unemployment rate	5.5	5.5	0.0	0.3	...	...
Employment rate	69.9	70.0	0.1	0.0	...	...
Part-time rate	7.1	7.3	0.2	0.9	...	...
Women 25+
Population	11,571.1	11,585.6	14.5	179.6	0.1	1.6
Labour force	7,181.3	7,193.6	12.3	119.8	0.2	1.7
Employment	6,831.2	6,858.3	27.1	88.4	0.4	1.3
Full-time	5,365.7	5,399.4	33.7	65.5	0.6	1.2
Part-time	1,465.5	1,458.9	-6.6	22.8	-0.5	1.6
Unemployment	350.1	335.3	-14.8	31.4	-4.2	10.3
Participation rate	62.1	62.1	0.0	0.1	...	...
Unemployment rate	4.9	4.7	-0.2	0.4	...	...
Employment rate	59.0	59.2	0.2	-0.2	...	...
Part-time rate	21.5	21.3	-0.2	0.1	...	...
... not applicable Note: Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

Employment by class of worker and industry (based on NAICS1)
	September 2008	October 2008	September to October 2008	October 2007 to October 2008	September to October 2008	October 2007 to October 2008
	Seasonally adjusted
	thousands		change in thousands		% change
Class of worker
Employees	14,556.2	14,566.2	10.0	218.3	0.1	1.5
Self-employed	2,650.1	2,649.5	-0.6	5.0	0.0	0.2
Public/private sector employees
Public	3,434.8	3,464.9	30.1	87.3	0.9	2.6
Private	11,121.4	11,101.3	-20.1	130.9	-0.2	1.2
All industries	17,206.3	17,215.8	9.5	223.3	0.1	1.3
Goods-producing sector	4,076.6	4,049.8	-26.8	53.4	-0.7	1.3
Agriculture	328.6	327.6	-1.0	-19.0	-0.3	-5.5
Natural resources	344.1	338.4	-5.7	10.8	-1.7	3.3
Utilities	151.5	148.6	-2.9	2.0	-1.9	1.4
Construction	1,264.2	1,255.4	-8.8	106.6	-0.7	9.3
Manufacturing	1,988.2	1,979.6	-8.6	-47.3	-0.4	-2.3
Service-producing sector	13,129.7	13,166.0	36.3	169.9	0.3	1.3
Trade	2,671.0	2,681.4	10.4	-12.7	0.4	-0.5
Transportation and warehousing	872.4	872.2	-0.2	50.9	0.0	6.2
Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing	1,074.8	1,070.8	-4.0	3.5	-0.4	0.3
Professional, scientific and technical services	1,199.2	1,203.8	4.6	47.4	0.4	4.1
Business, building and other support services	675.7	672.4	-3.3	-24.4	-0.5	-3.5
Educational services	1,200.0	1,211.8	11.8	17.2	1.0	1.4
Health care and social assistance	1,922.8	1,920.6	-2.2	57.5	-0.1	3.1
Information, culture and recreation	747.9	746.8	-1.1	-44.4	-0.1	-5.6
Accommodation and food services	1,093.2	1,066.2	-27.0	-1.3	-2.5	-0.1
Other services	760.4	767.8	7.4	27.0	1.0	3.6
Public administration	912.4	952.2	39.8	49.1	4.4	5.4
1. North American Industrial Classification System. Note: Related to CANSIM tables 282-0088 and 282-0089.

Labour force characteristics by province
	September 2008	October 2008	September to October 2008	October 2007 to October 2008	September to October 2008	October 2007 to October 2008
	Seasonally adjusted
	thousands		change in thousands		% change
Newfoundland and Labrador
Population	426.8	427.2	0.4	3.6	0.1	0.8
Labour force	249.8	253.1	3.3	2.2	1.3	0.9
Employment	216.6	218.5	1.9	1.8	0.9	0.8
Full-time	187.9	185.5	-2.4	-1.9	-1.3	-1.0
Part-time	28.7	33.0	4.3	3.7	15.0	12.6
Unemployment	33.2	34.6	1.4	0.4	4.2	1.2
Participation rate	58.5	59.2	0.7	0.0	...	...
Unemployment rate	13.3	13.7	0.4	0.1	...	...
Employment rate	50.7	51.1	0.4	-0.1	...	...
Prince Edward Island
Population	115.2	115.3	0.1	1.6	0.1	1.4
Labour force	79.8	78.9	-0.9	2.0	-1.1	2.6
Employment	70.7	69.8	-0.9	-0.3	-1.3	-0.4
Full-time	58.9	57.8	-1.1	0.0	-1.9	0.0
Part-time	11.8	12.0	0.2	-0.3	1.7	-2.4
Unemployment	9.1	9.1	0.0	2.3	0.0	33.8
Participation rate	69.3	68.4	-0.9	0.8	...	...
Unemployment rate	11.4	11.5	0.1	2.7	...	...
Employment rate	61.4	60.5	-0.9	-1.2	...	...
Nova Scotia
Population	770.0	770.2	0.2	5.2	0.0	0.7
Labour force	494.4	495.8	1.4	7.6	0.3	1.6
Employment	456.8	458.6	1.8	7.7	0.4	1.7
Full-time	374.1	373.6	-0.5	9.0	-0.1	2.5
Part-time	82.7	84.9	2.2	-1.4	2.7	-1.6
Unemployment	37.6	37.2	-0.4	-0.1	-1.1	-0.3
Participation rate	64.2	64.4	0.2	0.6	...	...
Unemployment rate	7.6	7.5	-0.1	-0.1	...	...
Employment rate	59.3	59.5	0.2	0.6	...	...
New Brunswick
Population	619.0	619.3	0.3	4.8	0.0	0.8
Labour force	399.0	405.0	6.0	10.8	1.5	2.7
Employment	367.0	369.2	2.2	5.1	0.6	1.4
Full-time	307.6	309.8	2.2	2.6	0.7	0.8
Part-time	59.4	59.5	0.1	2.6	0.2	4.6
Unemployment	32.0	35.7	3.7	5.5	11.6	18.2
Participation rate	64.5	65.4	0.9	1.3	...	...
Unemployment rate	8.0	8.8	0.8	1.1	...	...
Employment rate	59.3	59.6	0.3	0.3	...	...
Quebec
Population	6,385.4	6,390.7	5.3	60.4	0.1	1.0
Labour force	4,197.0	4,192.9	-4.1	23.8	-0.1	0.6
Employment	3,890.8	3,891.3	0.5	13.5	0.0	0.3
Full-time	3,151.9	3,142.2	-9.7	-18.3	-0.3	-0.6
Part-time	739.0	749.1	10.1	31.7	1.4	4.4
Unemployment	306.2	301.5	-4.7	10.3	-1.5	3.5
Participation rate	65.7	65.6	-0.1	-0.3	...	...
Unemployment rate	7.3	7.2	-0.1	0.2	...	...
Employment rate	60.9	60.9	0.0	-0.4	...	...
... not applicable Note: Related CANSIM table 282-0087.

Labour force characteristics by province
	September 2008	October 2008	September to October 2008	October 2007 to October 2008	September to October 2008	October 2007 to October 2008
	Seasonally adjusted
	thousands		change in thousands		% change
Ontario
Population	10,546.7	10,560.1	13.4	156.2	0.1	1.5
Labour force	7,192.7	7,203.4	10.7	115.8	0.1	1.6
Employment	6,735.0	6,732.1	-2.9	76.5	0.0	1.1
Full-time	5,446.0	5,472.9	26.9	27.6	0.5	0.5
Part-time	1,289.0	1,259.2	-29.8	48.9	-2.3	4.0
Unemployment	457.7	471.4	13.7	39.3	3.0	9.1
Participation rate	68.2	68.2	0.0	0.1	...	...
Unemployment rate	6.4	6.5	0.1	0.4	...	...
Employment rate	63.9	63.8	-0.1	-0.2	...	...
Manitoba
Population	912.3	913.1	0.8	11.6	0.1	1.3
Labour force	635.9	634.6	-1.3	7.1	-0.2	1.1
Employment	606.8	607.2	0.4	5.4	0.1	0.9
Full-time	488.8	494.8	6.0	8.4	1.2	1.7
Part-time	118.0	112.4	-5.6	-3.0	-4.7	-2.6
Unemployment	29.0	27.4	-1.6	1.7	-5.5	6.6
Participation rate	69.7	69.5	-0.2	-0.1	...	...
Unemployment rate	4.6	4.3	-0.3	0.2	...	...
Employment rate	66.5	66.5	0.0	-0.3	...	...
Saskatchewan
Population	770.7	772.1	1.4	17.0	0.2	2.3
Labour force	541.4	540.8	-0.6	15.1	-0.1	2.9
Employment	519.2	519.3	0.1	16.2	0.0	3.2
Full-time	426.3	426.0	-0.3	10.1	-0.1	2.4
Part-time	92.9	93.3	0.4	6.1	0.4	7.0
Unemployment	22.2	21.5	-0.7	-1.1	-3.2	-4.9
Participation rate	70.2	70.0	-0.2	0.4	...	...
Unemployment rate	4.1	4.0	-0.1	-0.3	...	...
Employment rate	67.4	67.3	-0.1	0.7	...	...
Alberta
Population	2,808.2	2,812.3	4.1	48.2	0.1	1.7
Labour force	2,104.6	2,116.9	12.3	71.4	0.6	3.5
Employment	2,023.9	2,038.6	14.7	61.7	0.7	3.1
Full-time	1,689.4	1,706.5	17.1	51.2	1.0	3.1
Part-time	334.6	332.1	-2.5	10.5	-0.7	3.3
Unemployment	80.7	78.3	-2.4	9.7	-3.0	14.1
Participation rate	74.9	75.3	0.4	1.3	...	...
Unemployment rate	3.8	3.7	-0.1	0.3	...	...
Employment rate	72.1	72.5	0.4	1.0	...	...
British Columbia
Population	3,658.6	3,663.9	5.3	72.5	0.1	2.0
Labour force	2,431.1	2,434.2	3.1	54.8	0.1	2.3
Employment	2,319.4	2,311.1	-8.3	35.6	-0.4	1.6
Full-time	1,846.3	1,855.7	9.4	36.5	0.5	2.0
Part-time	473.1	455.5	-17.6	-0.9	-3.7	-0.2
Unemployment	111.7	123.0	11.3	19.1	10.1	18.4
Participation rate	66.4	66.4	0.0	0.1	...	...
Unemployment rate	4.6	5.1	0.5	0.7	...	...
Employment rate	63.4	63.1	-0.3	-0.3	...	...
... not applicable Note: Related CANSIM table 282-0087.