BRITISH COLUMBIA – Canadian employment grew by 231,000 jobs in June (1.2 per cent, m/m) to 18.79 million, led by a 264,000 rise in the number of part-time jobs (offsetting a small decline in the number of full-time jobs).
This growth brings employment back to nearly the levels in March, prior to two consecutive months of decline amid third-wave restrictions. The level of Canadian employment is now -1.8 per cent (-340k) below its February 2020 pre-pandemic level. Ontario and other provinces eased third-wave restrictions in June.
As a result, the industries driving growth in June across Canada were in accommodation & food services (+101k) and retail trade (+75k). The unemployment rate declined 0.4 per cent to 7.8 per cent.
In BC, employment rose by 42,000 (+1.6 per cent m/m), following declines in April and May. The unemployment rate fell slightly from 7.0 per cent to 6.6 per cent, driven by growth in part-time work and the food & accommodation sector (+19k). BC is the lone province with employment above its pre-pandemic level.
