January 2019 Labour Market Update

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

January Unemployment Rate: Brantford 5.9% [-] Ontario 5.7% [+] Canada 5.8% [+]

Labour Market Reports

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

For Canada and Ontario, Statistics Canada reports that, “The number of people employed grew by 67,000 in January, mostly among youth aged 15 to 24 and in the services-producing industries. The unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 5.8% as more people looked for work....

"In Ontario, the number of people employed rose by 41,000 in January, the result of an increase in full-time work. At the same time, more people looked for work (+31,000), pushing the unemployment rate up 0.3 percentage points to 5.7%. In the 12 months to January, employment in the province grew by 2.4% or 170,000....

"Compared with December, employment in wholesale and retail trade increased by 34,000 in January, led by Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. On a year-over-year basis, national employment was little changed in the industry....

"In January, the number of employees increased by 112,000 in the private sector, while it was little changed in the public sector for the third consecutive month. At the same time, the number of self-employed declined by 61,000. On a trend-cycle basis, self-employment has levelled off in recent months....

"Adjusted to US concepts, the unemployment rate in Canada was 4.8% in January, compared with 4.0% in the United States. Compared with 12 months earlier, the unemployment rate was little changed in both Canada and the United States."

TOP LINE

• January Unemployment Rate: Brantford 5.9% [-] Ontario 5.7% [+] Canada 5.8% [+]
• The local unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 month over month.
• The local labour force expanded by 1,300 month over month.
• The number of employed increased by 1,600 month over month.
• The number of unemployed decreased by 200 month over month.
• When compared to the surrounding CMAs of Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo, Guelph, and London, Brantford’s unemployment rate is second highest.

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