Labour Market Bulletin Newfoundland and Labrador May 2015 This Labour Market Bulletin is a report providing an analysis of Labour Force Survey results for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, including the regions of Avalon Peninsula, West Coast Northern Peninsula Labrador, Notre Dame Central Bonavista Bay and South Coast Burin Peninsula. OVERVIEW A loss of full-time jobs in both the Goods-producing sector and the Service-producing sector led to an increase in unemployment in Newfoundland and Labrador in May. The unemployment rate increased to 13.8%, up 1.2 percentage points from the previous month, while the size of the labour force decreased by 1,300. Seasonally Adjusted Monthly Data Newfoundland and Labrador Monthly Labour Force Statistics May 2015 April 2015 May 2014 Monthly Variation Yearly Variation Number % Number % Population 15 + ('000) 443.0 443.1 443.8-0.1 0.0-0.8-0.2 Labour Force ('000) 270.0 271.3 269.1-1.3-0.5 0.9 0.3 Employment ('000) 232.8 237.1 235.1-4.3-1.8-2.3-1.0 Full-Time ('000) 199.8 203.9 197.4-4.1-2.0 2.4 1.2 Part-Time ('000) 33.0 33.2 37.7-0.2-0.6-4.7-12.5 Unemployment ('000) 37.2 34.2 33.9 3.0 8.8 3.3 9.7 Unemployment Rate (%) 13.8 12.6 12.6 1.2-1.2 - Participation Rate (%) 60.9 61.2 60.6-0.3-0.3 - Employment Rate (%) 52.6 53.5 53.0-0.9 - -0.4 - Note: Totals may not add due to rounding Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey CANSIM Table 282-0087 Employment in the Construction industry decreased notably in May, with 2,400 fewer workers than in the previous month. The number of workers in the Construction industry has decreased by 4,600 since reaching a record high in October 2014. The Public sector gained 800 jobs in May from the previous month but employment in this sector is still down almost 5% compared to a year ago. In comparison, there were 2,100 more employees in the Private sector compared to a year ago, an increase of 1.4%.
Labour Market Bulletin Newfoundland and Labrador May 2015 Page 2 The youth (age 15 to 24 years) unemployment rate in May was 16.7%, a decrease of 1.3 percentage points from the month before. Employment increased by 400 jobs in May, while the size of the labour force decreased by 100. Youth employment has been fairly steady in recent months. The unemployment rate for men 25 years and older was 16.5% in May, an increase of three percentage points from April. Employment decreased by 4,900 jobs, with all of the losses being in full-time positions. The labour force decreased by 1,400 people from the previous month. Employment has generally declined for this group over the past year, with employment down by 6,200 from May 2014. The unemployment rate showed a significant increase in May, after remaining relatively steady since the latter part of 2014. The unemployment rate in May for women 25 years and older was virtually unchanged at 9.8%, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points. A small gain in full-time employment was offset by a similar loss in part-time work. With the exception of an upward spike in March, the unemployment rate for this group has been relatively stable in 2015. Newfoundland and Labrador Monthly Unemployment Rates, by Gender and Age Seasonally Adjusted Data May 2015 April 2015 May 2014 Monthly Variation Yearly Variation % % % (% points) (% points) Total 13.8 12.6 12.6 1.2 1.2 25 years and over 13.3 11.8 11.7 1.5 1.6 Men - 25 years and over 16.5 13.5 13.5 3.0 3.0 Women - 25 years and over 9.8 9.9 9.8-0.1 0.0 15 to 24 years 16.7 18.0 18.9-1.3-2.2 Men - 15 to 24 years 24.7 25.4 26.4-0.7-1.7 Women - 15 to 24 years 10.0 11.6 11.0-1.6-1.0 Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey CANSIM Table 282-0087
Labour Market Bulletin Newfoundland and Labrador May 2015 Page 3 EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Both the Services-producing sector and the Goods-producing sector lost jobs in May. The Services-producing sector decreased by 1,800 jobs, offsetting a similar size increase in April. The Goods-producing sector lost 2,400 jobs in May. Employment in this sector is down 5,300 jobs since its twelve month peak in October 2014. Over the past twelve months, employment in the Goods-producing sector decreased by 800 jobs, while employment in the Services-producing sector decreased by 1,500 jobs. In the Construction industry, employment decreased by 2,400 jobs in May. Construction employment is at its lowest level since October 2012. Employment in the Construction industry has been on a downward trend since reaching a record high in October 2014. In May, there were 2,700 fewer jobs in the Construction industry than there were twelve months ago. Some of the job losses can be attributed to a slowing of work in major projects such as construction of the Hebron Gravity Based Structure (GBS) and Long Harbour Nickel Processing Facility as these projects near completion. Manufacturing employment remained unchanged in May from the previous month. Employment in the industry increased by 800 jobs compared to twelve months ago. Major project activity has kept employment levels strong in durable manufacturing industries. In the Services-producing sector, decreases were led by Public administration, and Educational services, which showed a combined decrease of 1,400 jobs from April to May. Compared to May 2014, both of these industries are down a combined 4,600 jobs. Job losses in both of these industries reflect provincial government budget restraints. Professional, scientific and technical services remained steady in May. Employment in this sector was up by 1,200 from a year ago as oil companies continue their strong presence in the province.
Labour Market Bulletin Newfoundland and Labrador May 2015 Page 4 Newfoundland and Labrador Monthly Labour Force Statistics, by Industry Seasonally Adjusted Data ('000) May 2015 April 2015 May 2014 Monthly Variation Yearly Variation Number % Number % Total employed, all industries 232.8 237.1 235.1-4.3-1.8-2.3-1.0 Goods-producing sector 51.5 53.9 52.3-2.4-4.5-0.8-1.5 Agriculture 1.9 1.7 1.1 0.2 11.8 0.8 72.7 Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas 15.9 16.6 16.2-0.7-4.2-0.3-1.9 Utilities 2.9 2.7 2.5 0.2 7.4 0.4 16.0 Construction 20.1 22.5 22.8-2.4-10.7-2.7-11.8 Manufacturing 10.6 10.6 9.8 0.0 0.0 0.8 8.2 Services-producing sector 181.3 183.1 182.8-1.8-1.0-1.5-0.8 Trade 40.6 40.8 40.1-0.2-0.5 0.5 1.2 Transportation and warehousing 10.8 10.7 12.0 0.1 0.9-1.2-10.0 Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing 7.9 8.2 8.7-0.3-3.7-0.8-9.2 Professional, scientific and technical services Business, building and other support services 11.6 11.6 10.4 0.0 0.0 1.2 11.5 6.8 7.0 6.3-0.2-2.9 0.5 7.9 Educational services 15.7 16.2 17.7-0.5-3.1-2.0-11.3 Health care and social assistance 36.8 36.8 36.7 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 Information, culture and recreation 7.3 6.7 8.0 0.6 9.0-0.7-8.8 Accommodation and food services 16.0 16.1 13.8-0.1-0.6 2.2 15.9 Other services 12.5 12.6 11.1-0.1-0.8 1.4 12.6 Public administration 15.4 16.3 18.0-0.9-5.5-2.6-14.4 Note: Totals may not add due to rounding Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey CANSIM Table 282-0088 REGIONAL ANALYSIS In May, the unemployment rate showed little change in the Avalon Peninsula, the South Coast-Burin Peninsula and the Notre Dame-Central-Bonavista Bay economic regions but showed a significant increase in the West Coast Northern Peninsula Labrador economic region. Recent job losses through most of the province have mainly been in the Services-producing sector, with the exception of the South Coast Burin Peninsula and the Notre Dame Central - Bonavista Bay region, which experienced an increase in the Services-producing sector. In the Goods-producing sector, the Avalon Peninsula was the only region to gain jobs in May. The size of the labour force and employment increased in all economic regions, except for the West Coast Northern Peninsula Labrador region, where both decreased. On the Avalon Peninsula, the unemployment rate, at 9.3%, was up 0.5 percentage points from twelve months ago. Employment showed a slight increase of 400 jobs but the size of the labour force increased by 1,300. An increase of 3,600 jobs in full-time employment was offset by a decrease of 3,200 in part-time employment. Employment on the Avalon Peninsula has increased for six straight months. However, the unemployment rate has shown increases in recent months as the labour force grew faster than employment.
Labour Market Bulletin Newfoundland and Labrador May 2015 Page 5 The Avalon Peninsula showed both notable job gains and losses in the Services-producing sector in May. Trade gained 2,400 jobs, Business, building and other support services gained 1,000 jobs, and Accommodation and food services gained 1,700 jobs compared to twelve months ago. In contrast, there were 1,500 fewer jobs in Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing, while Public administration had 1,400 fewer jobs over the past year as governments continue to experience fiscal restraint. The unemployment rate in the South Coast Burin Peninsula and Notre Dame Central - Bonavista Bay economic region in May was 21.7%, an increase of 0.5 percentage points from twelve months ago. The labour force grew faster than employment on a year-over-year basis. All employment gains were in part-time work, while there was a small decrease in full-time work. Employment gains were experienced in the Services-producing sector, 1,300 jobs compared to twelve months earlier. Most of the Services-producing sector gains were in Information, culture and recreation. Job losses in the Goods-producing sector were found mainly in Construction. In the West Coast Northern Peninsula Labrador region, the unemployment rate has increased by 7.1 percentage points over the past twelve months to 22.1%, as employment declined faster than the size of the labour force. Employment losses were mostly full-time in nature. This continues a downward trend in employment in the region. The Services-producing sector accounted for most of the job losses as Trade and Educational services combined for 4,200 job losses (2,400 and 1,800 job losses respectively). In the Goods-producing sector, job losses were mainly in Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas. Newfoundland and Labrador Monthly Labour Force Statistics, by Economic Region 3-Month Moving Averages Seasonally Unadjusted Data Employment Unemployment Rate May May Yearly May May Yearly 2015 2014 2015 2014 ('000) ('000) Variation (%) (%) Variation (%) (% points) Newfoundland and Labrador 230.6 234.3-1.6 14.7 13.0 1.7 Economic Regions Avalon Peninsula 139.6 139.1 0.4 9.3 8.8 0.5 South Coast-Burin Peninsula and Notre Dame- Central Bonavista Bay 52.3 52.0 0.6 21.7 21.2 0.5 West Coast Northern Peninsula Labrador 38.7 43.2-10.4 22.1 15.0 7.1 Note: Totals may not add due to rounding Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey CANSIM Table 282-0122
Labour Market Bulletin Newfoundland and Labrador May 2015 Page 6 Note: In preparing this document, the authors have taken care to provide clients with labour market information that is timely and accurate at the time of publication. Since labour market conditions are dynamic, some of the information presented here may have changed since this document was published. Users are encouraged to also refer to other sources for additional information on the local economy and labour market. Information contained in this document does not necessarily reflect official policies of Employment and Social Development Canada. Prepared by: Labour Market Analysis Directorate, Service Canada, Atlantic Region For further information, please contact Labour Market Analysis Directorate, Service Canada, Atlantic Region at: NC-LMI-IMT-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca For information on the Labour Force Survey, please visit the Statistics Canada Web site at: www.statcan.gc.ca Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by Employment and Social Development Canada, 2015, all rights reserved