
The latest Statistics Canada local labour market report customized for the Brantford CMA for last month is now available.
September Unemployment Rate: Brantford 3.6% [-] Ontario 5.3% [-] 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.
The report includes annual rates for the last 10 years, comparing Brantford to surrounding CMAs as well as the provincial and national levels.
Statistics Canada Summary
For Canada and Ontario, Statistics Canada reports that, “Employment rose by 54,000 in September, driven by gains in full-time work. The unemployment rate declined 0.2 percentage points to 5.5%.
In the third quarter, employment increased by 111,000, or 0.6%, similar to the 0.7% growth rate observed in the second quarter.
On a year-over-year basis, employment grew by 456,000, or 2.4%. Over the same period, total hours worked were up 1.3%....
In September, employment increased in Ontario and Nova Scotia, while it held steady in the other provinces….
Employment in Ontario rose by 41,000 in September, mostly in full-time work. The unemployment rate in the province declined 0.3 percentage points to 5.3%. On a year-over-year basis, employment in Ontario grew by 253,000 (+3.5%)….
For men in the core working ages of 25 to 54, employment rose by 36,000 in September. Their unemployment rate declined 0.5 percentage points to 4.4%, the lowest rate since September 1979. On a year-over-year basis, employment for this group grew by 134,000 (+2.1%).
Among core-aged women, employment rose by 33,000, the largest gain for this group since January 2017. Their unemployment rate declined 0.3 percentage points to 4.2%. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment for core-aged women was up by 78,000 (+1.3%).
Employment was virtually unchanged for people aged 55 and older, and their unemployment rate remained at 4.9%. Compared with September 2018, employment for this group increased by 177,000, or 4.4%.
For youth aged 15 to 24, employment held steady, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 11.9%. On a year-over-year basis, youth employment was up 68,000 (+2.8%)….
Employment in health care and social assistance rose by 30,000, continuing an upward trend that began in April. On a year-over-year basis, employment in this industry grew by 108,000 (+4.5%).
Following declines in the first half of 2019, employment in accommodation and food services grew by 23,000 in September, bringing employment in this industry to a level similar to that observed 12 months earlier.
The number of people employed in information, culture and recreation fell by 37,000 in September. On a year-over-year basis, employment in this industry was virtually unchanged.
Employment in natural resources declined by 7,000, continuing a downward trend that began in June. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in this industry decreased by 24,000 (-6.8%)….
The number of self-employed workers rose by 42,000 in September, continuing an upward trend observed since May. On a year-over-year basis, self-employment gains totalled 106,000 (+3.7%).
In the public sector, the number of employees increased by 33,000. Compared with 12 months earlier, public sector employment grew by 67,000 (+1.8%).
While virtually unchanged in September, the number of private sector employees was up by 283,000 (+2.3%) on a year-over-year basis….
Adjusted to U.S. concepts, the unemployment rate in Canada was 4.4% in September, compared with 3.5% in the United States. Compared with 12 months earlier, the unemployment rate declined by 0.4 percentage points in Canada and 0.2 percentage points in the United States.
The labour force participation rate in Canada (adjusted to U.S. concepts) was 65.5% in September, compared with 63.2% in the United States. On a year-over-year basis, the participation rate increased by 0.3 percentage points in Canada, while it was up 0.5 percentage points in the United States.
The U.S.-adjusted employment rate in Canada was 62.7% in September, compared with 61.0% in the United States. On a year-over-year basis, the employment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points both in Canada and in the United States.”
Top Line
- September Unemployment Rate: Brantford 3.6% [-] Ontario 5.3% [-] Canada 5.5% [-]
- The local unemployment rate decreased by 0.3 month over month.
- The local labour force contracted by 1,300 month over month.
- The number of employed decreased by 1,000 month over month.
- The number of unemployed decreased by 300 month over month.
- When compared to the surrounding CMAs of Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo, Guelph, and London, Brantford’s unemployment rate is lowest again.
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
Be sure to review the participation rate and the employment rate (reported as percentages) as well as the size of the labour force, the employed, and the unemployed (reported as absolute numbers). These give a better picture of changes in the market.