Monthly Labour Market Update Graphic

The latest Statistics Canada local labour market report customized for the Brantford CMA for last month is now available.

February Unemployment Rate: Brantford 5.5% [-] Ontario 5.5% [-] Canada 5.5% [-]

Be sure to review the participation rate and the employment rate (reported as percentages), as well as the labour force, the employed, and the unemployed values (reported as absolute numbers). These give a better picture of changes in the market.

Labour Market Report

The report includes annual rates for the last 10 years, comparing Brantford to surrounding CMAs as well as the provincial and national levels.


Overview from Statistics Canada

Employment climbed 337,000 (+1.8%) in February, more than offsetting losses that coincided with stricter public health measures in January. The unemployment rate dropped 1.0 percentage points to 5.5% in February 2022, lower than in February 2020 (5.7%) and similar to the record low (5.4%) observed in May 2019.

Other indicators point to an increasingly tight labour market in February. Total hours worked increased 3.6% while the employment rate, or the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who were employed, rose 1.0 percentage points to 61.8%.

Labour Force Survey (LFS) data for February 2022 reflect labour market conditions during the week of February 13 to 19. After a tightening of public health measures in late 2021 and early 2022, many measures had been eased by the February reference week. Several provinces had lifted, or were in the process of lifting, proof of vaccination requirements and capacity limits in settings such as restaurants, retailers, theatres and gyms. Most schools had returned to in-person learning.

Highlights

Employment rebounds in February after January losses

Employment climbed 337,000 (+1.8%) in February, more than offsetting January losses.

February employment growth was driven by gains in the number of private sector employees (+347,000; +2.8%).

Gains were most notable in the accommodation and food services (+114,000; +12.6%), and information, culture and recreation (+73,000; +9.9%) industries.

After reaching a record high in January (10.0%), the proportion of employees absent from work due to illness or disability fell to 6.2% during the week of February 13 to 19.

Total hours worked were up 3.6%, exceeding hours worked in February 2020 for the first time (+1.7%).

On a year-over-year basis, average hourly wages increased 3.1% (+$0.92).

Employment in the goods-producing sector rose (+44,000), marking the third consecutive monthly increase.

Employment rose in eight provinces and held steady in Alberta and New Brunswick.

Unemployment rate increases for the first time in nine months

The unemployment rate fell 1.0 percentage points to 5.5% in February 2022, lower than in February 2020 (5.7%).

Among youth aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate fell 2.7 percentage points to 10.9% in February after increasing 2.5 percentage points in January.

The unemployment rate fell for both core-aged women (-0.9 percentage points to 4.4%) and core-aged men (-0.5 percentage points to 4.3%).

The number of long-term unemployed fell by 51,000 (-19.4%) in February, the fourth consecutive monthly decrease.

The labour force participation rate among the population aged 15 and older increased by 0.4 percentage points to 65.4% in February, fully erasing the decline recorded in January.

Employment gains in February were most notable in the accommodation and food services (+114,000; +12.6%), and information, culture and recreation (+73,000; +9.9%) industries. Employment increases were widespread across provinces and demographic group.


Local Top Line

  • February Unemployment Rate: Brantford 5.5% [-] Ontario 5.5% [-] Canada 5.5% [-]
  • The local unemployment rate decreased by 1.0 month over month.
  • The local labour force contracted by 200 month over month.
  • The number of employed increased by 800 month over month.
  • The number of unemployed decreased by 800 month over month.
  • When compared to the surrounding CMAs of Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo, Guelph, and London, Brantford’s unemployment rate is in the middle.

Note:  Brantford's unemployment reflects a 3 month moving average, whereas Ontario and Canada are monthly figures.  The sample CMA breakdown for Brantford area is detailed in text at the Stats Canada website:  http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3VD.pl?Function=getVD&TVD=117159&CVD=117161&CPV=543&CST=01012011&CLV=2&MLV=3