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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.

September Unemployment Rate: Brantford 4.1% [+] Ontario 5.8% [+] Canada 5.2% [-]

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 little changed in September

After dropping in August, employment was little changed (+21,000) in September, with both full-time and part-time work holding steady.

Employment declined for a second consecutive month among young women aged 15 to 24, but increased among male youth and core-aged women in September.

Gains in educational services and health care and social assistance were offset by losses in manufacturing; information, culture and recreation; transportation and warehousing; and public administration.

The number of employees in the public sector rose in September, partially offsetting declines recorded in July and August. Employment was little changed among employees in the private sector and among self-employed workers.

Employment increased in four provinces, led by British Columbia, while there were fewer people working in Ontario and Prince Edward Island.

Year-over-year wage growth remained above 5% for a fourth consecutive month, with the average hourly wages of employees rising 5.2% (+$1.57 to $31.67) compared with September 2021 (not seasonally adjusted).

Total hours worked were down 0.6% in September. Despite declining by 1.1% since June, total hours worked were up 2.4% on a year-over-year basis.

After increasing in August, unemployment rate declines in September

After increasing 0.5 percentage points to 5.4% in August, the unemployment rate dropped to 5.2% in September.

The adjusted unemployment rate—which includes people who wanted a job but did not look for one—was little changed.

In the Spotlight

In September, there were just under one million (983,000; 57.5%) people aged 55 to 64 who cited retirement as their main activity.

While the employment rate among core-aged mothers was at a record high in September, those with a child under 16 were twice as likely (14.9%) to have decided not to apply for a job or a promotion over the previous 12 months than their male counterparts (7.1%).

Local Top Line

  • September Unemployment Rate: Brantford 4.1% [+] Ontario 5.8% [+] Canada 5.2% [-]
  • The local unemployment rate increased by 0.3 month over month.
  • The local labour force expanded by 800 month over month.
  • The number of employed increased by 700 month over month.
  • The number of unemployed increased by 300 month over month.
  • When compared to the surrounding CMAs of Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo, Guelph, and London, Brantford’s unemployment rate is second lowest.

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