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Monthly Labour Market Update Graphic

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

November Unemployment Rate: Brantford 7.6% [+] Ontario 6.4% [-] Canada 6.0% [-]

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.

Revisions to Labour Force Survey data

Following each census cycle, Labour Force Survey (LFS) data are revised to ensure alignment with the most recently available population estimates, geographic boundaries, and occupation and industry classifications. This standard revision process—which has little impact on key labour market indicators such as employment and the unemployment rate—ensures that the LFS continues to paint a complete and accurate picture of labour market conditions.  Read more on the Statistics Canada website.

Overview from Statistics Canada

Employment rose by 154,000 (+0.8%) in November and was 186,000 (+1.0%) higher than its pre-COVID February 2020 level. The unemployment rate fell to 6.0%, within 0.3 percentage points of what it was in February 2020.

Employment increased in both the services-producing and goods-producing sectors in November. Both full-time (+80,000; +0.5%) and part-time (+74,000; +2.1%) work increased, and employment gains were spread across six provinces.

Highlights

Continuing employment growth

Employment rose by 154,000 (+0.8%) in November and was 186,000 (+1.0%) higher than its pre-COVID February 2020 level.

Employment among core-aged women (25 to 54 years) grew 66,000 (+1.1%), primarily in full-time work (+47,000; +0.9%).

Among core-aged men, employment rose by 48,000 (+0.7%), with gains entirely in full-time work.

The employment rate for women aged 25 to 54 reached an all-time high of 80.7%.

Both full-time (+80,000; +0.5%) and part-time (+74,000; +2.1%) work increased.

Total hours worked increased 0.7%, returning to its pre-pandemic February 2020 level for the first time.

The number of private sector employees rose 107,000 (+0.9%), while there was little change in public sector employment and self-employment.

Two-year wage growth was 5.2% when controlling for changes in the composition of employment by occupation and tenure, and 7.7% when not controlling.

Employment increased in both the services-producing sector (+127,000) and the goods-producing sector (+26,000) in November.

Employment increased in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Unemployment rate approaches pre-pandemic level

The unemployment rate fell 0.7 percentage points to 6.0% in November—the sixth consecutive monthly drop and the largest decline since March 2021.

Total unemployment fell to 1.24 million (-122,000; -8.9%) but remained 98,000 higher than in February 2020.

The number of Canadians unemployed for 27 weeks or more fell 62,000 (-16.2%), the first monthly decline in long-term unemployment since August 2021.

The decline in long-term unemployment was particularly sharp for those who had been unemployed for 52 weeks or more (-23.4%; -56,000).

Local Top Line

  • November Unemployment Rate: Brantford 7.6% [+] Ontario 6.4% [-] Canada 6.0% [-]
  • The local unemployment rate increased by 0.4 month over month.
  • The local labour force expanded by 500 month over month.
  • The number of employed increased by 100 month over month.
  • The number of unemployed increased by 400 month over month.
  • When compared to the surrounding CMAs of Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo, Guelph, and London, Brantford’s unemployment rate is 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