Canada Continues To Emerge From COVID-19 Crisis As Unemployment Falls

Colin Singer
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Canada Continues To Emerge From COVID-19 Crisis As Unemployment Falls

Employment rose by 94,000 and the unemployment rate fell to 7.5 per cent as the Canada jobs picture continued to improve in July, in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. 

The Statistics Canada Labour Market Survey shows that two months of growth in June and July totalled 325,000 jobs, putting Canada just 246,000 jobs, or 1.3 per cent, behind the pre-coronavirus February 2020 level.

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Young people aged 15 to 24 and core-aged women aged 25 to 54 spearheaded the gains.

Employment among young people grew by 62,000, all in part-time jobs. The numbers are now at pre-pandemic levels for young men, and nearing that figure for young women.

Core-aged women saw employment rise by 30,000 jobs, with all the gains in full-time work. Overall jobs for both sexes in the 25 to 54 age group are now 124,000 behind pre-pandemic levels.

What Are The Labour Force Survey Highlights?

Unemployment rate (%) 7.5
Employment rate (%) 60.3
Labour force participation rate (%) 65.2
Number unemployed 1,521,400
Number working 18,883,900
Youth (15-24) unemployment rate (%) 11.6
Men (over 25) unemployment rate (%) 7.1
Women (over 25) unemployment rate (%) 6.4

Source: Statistics Canada

Provincial Canada Jobs Picture

Ontario led the way in employment gains in July, adding 72,400 jobs, including 49,000 in the Toronto area. The unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage points to 8 per cent.

Manufacturing led the gains, while accommodation and food services and wholesale and retail trade also added jobs.

Alberta added 12,300 jobs, for an unemployment rate of 8.5 per cent.

Manitoba saw employment increase by 7,400 in July, and the unemployment rate dropped 1.5 percentage points to 6.1 per cent. Gains were predominantly in accommodation and food services, and information, culture and recreation.

Employment in Nova Scotia increased by 3,700, and the unemployment rate dropped 0.6 percentage points to 8.4 per cent. All of the gains were in full-time work and were mostly in health care and social assistance.

Unemployment Rates In Canada’s Provinces

Jobs change in last month Unemployment rate (%)
British Columbia -3,100 6.6
Alberta 12,300 8.5
Saskatchewan -4,500 7.0
Manitoba 7,400 6.1
Ontario 72,400 8.0
Quebec 7,500 6.1
New Brunswick -2,500 9.3
Nova Scotia 3,700 8.4
Prince Edward Island 1,100 9.6
Newfoundland & Labrador -200 12.7
CANADA 94,000 7.5

Source: Statistics Canada

Canada Jobs By Industry

July’s employment gains were focused on the private sector, where jobs grew by 123,000. 

The gains were also mainly in full-time work, where the 83,000 jobs added was the first increase since March 2021. Public sector jobs fell by 31,000.

All of the employment gains were in the services-producing sector (+93,000), with increases recorded in accommodation and food services (35,000), and finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (15,000).

Canada To Raise Limits On Temporary Workers? Quebec Businesses Hope So

Colin Singer
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0
Canada To Raise Limits On Temporary Workers? Quebec Businesses Hope So

Canada immigration news: Quebec is thought to be only days away from inking a deal with Ottawa to allow businesses to hire twice as many temporary foreign workers.

The French-language daily newspaper La Presse reported today that Quebec businesses would be able to hire enough temporary foreign workers to comprise up to 20 per cent of their workforces under the deal.

That would be twice as many as the current limit of 10 per cent.

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La Presse reports Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s federal government is already in talks with the administration of Quebec Premier François Legault. 

Quebec is facing a serious labour shortage, one that existed prior to the pandemic but that has gotten worse since then as many workers, understandably afraid of catching Covid-19, have availed themselves of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and left the labour force.

Stores In Quebec Close Sundays Due To Labour Shortage

The labour shortage has gotten so severe in some parts of Quebec that many retail outlets are now closing on Sundays.

An agreement to relax the legal limit on temporary foreign workers in Quebec would make it the first province to do so. 

An announcement of this deal is expected to be made in Montreal on Thursday ahead of an anticipated request by Trudeau of the governor-general, Mary Simon, to dissolve Parliament and trigger a federal election.

Quebec has been lobbying Ottawa for months to loosen up the regulations to bring in more temporary foreign workers and to simplify the application process for jobs requiring lower-skilled workers and those in the hospitality sector.

“These requests are reasonable and reflect the needs of the labour market and business,” Labour Minister Jean Boulet wrote in a letter in May that was obtained by the French-language daily Le Soleil.

“The paucity of workers in the Quebec labour market before the pandemic is again making itself felt in several economic sectors in many regions,” he reportedly wrote. “A larger number of employers in Quebec are increasingly crying out as the economy recovers. 

“In some cases, the availability of labour will be the deciding factor in whether these businesses survive or are forced to close their doors.”

Quebec Invests More Money In Immigration

Quebec is bullish on immigration, pumping $246 million into programs to attract and retain immigrants in its latest budget.

“Attracting and retaining immigrants to our communities, particularly those in the outlying regions, allows businesses to grow due to these skilled workers and helps resolve labour shortages in several of our economic sectors,” said Quebec Immigration Minister Nadine Girault earlier this year.

“These investments announced by the Quebec government will allow us to put in place more measures to effectively integrate immigrants so they can contribute fully to the development and prosperity of our province,” she said.

The money was earmarked to allow Quebec’s department of immigration, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), to beef up its processes to better recognize immigrants’ foreign qualifications, to recruit immigrants to outlying areas, to match the need for immigration to labour market needs, and to improve programs designed to integrate these newcomers into Quebecois society.

Quebec Woos International Students With $9.1m Shot In The Arm

The funds are also to be used to boost French-language education programs for immigrants and to attract more international students.

The biggest chunk of the money – $130 million spread out over the coming decade – is to go to programs to recognize immigrants’ foreign qualifications.

Another $57 million of the budgeted funds will be spent over the next two years for programs to entice immigrants to settle in parts of the province with acute labour shortages and to help them integrate into those communities.

As Canada’s sole francophone province, Quebec puts a great emphasis on the French language and intends to invest $50 million over the next two years to teach the language to immigrants and support them financially as they take French language courses.

The province is also planning to inject $9.1 million of the budgeted amount over the next three years through economic development agencies in Montreal, Quebec City and Drummondville to attract foreign students.

New Manitoba PNP Draw Sees 375 Immigration LAAs Issued

Colin Singer
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0
New Manitoba PNP Draw Sees 375 Immigration LAAs Issued

A new draw through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program saw the province issue 375 Letters of Advice to Apply to skilled workers and international graduates.

The July 29 draw saw LAAs issued through three MPNP streams.

Skilled Workers in Manitoba received 285 LAAs, with the lowest-ranked candidates scoring 400 points.

International Education Stream candidates received 43 LAAs.

The remaining 47 LAAs went to Skilled Workers Overseas candidates through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative, with a minimum score of 708.

Read More

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Manitoba stated that 42 of the 375 candidates had valid Express Entry IDs and job seeker validation codes.

For detailed requirements of all the streams featured in this draw, please see below.

This was the 123rd draw in the history of the MPNP.

What Were the Details of the Latest Manitoba Draw?

Stream Sub-Stream Letters of Advice to Apply Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate
1) Skilled Workers in Manitoba 285 400
2) International Education Stream 43 –
3) Skilled Workers Overseas Strategic Recruitment Initiative 47 708

Video

How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream?

The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream (SWM) is based on the specific needs of Manitoba employers. SWM selects foreign-trained workers with the required skills and nominates them for Canada permanent residence. The stream prioritizes candidates with a strong attachment to Manitoba, with two pathways to Manitoba immigration.

a) Manitoba Work Experience Pathway

For applicants currently working in Manitoba on temporary work permits, through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or as international graduates from any province. Candidates do not need to be working in In-Demand Occupations.

b) Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway

For applicants from overseas with job offers from approved Manitoba employers.

How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream?

The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream (SWO) includes both a dedicated Canada Express Entry Pathway and a direct provincial pathway.

It is aimed at international skilled workers with skills and training in Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Priority is given to applicants and spouses with close family connections, plus the language proficiency, training and experience to find jobs quickly.

a) Manitoba Express Entry Pathway

For international candidates eligible under another MPNP stream, who also meet Express Entry criteria and have an active Express Entry profile. Candidates need skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations, and a strong family connection to the province.

b) Human Capital Pathway

For international skilled workers with skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Candidates must demonstrate potential to find employment soon after they arrive in Manitoba.

What Are The Requirements For the International Education Stream?

The International Education Stream (IES) is dedicated to international graduates from Manitoba colleges and universities. Under IES, candidates are no longer required to work for six months in their field before applying for an MPNP nomination. It has three pathways:

1) Career Employment Pathway  

Eligibility requirements include:

  • Completed a one-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution within three years of submission of application.
  • Have a full-time job offer in a Manitoba In-Demand occupation related to the completed degree
  • Resident of Manitoba

2) Graduate Internship Pathway

Masters and Doctoral degree holders who have completed Mitacs Accelerate or Elevate internships can apply for nomination through internships even without a job offer in the province.

3) Student Entrepreneur Pathway

Eligibility requirements include:

  • Completed a two-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution
  • Six months business operation experience in Manitoba
  • Resident of Manitoba since graduation.
  • No specific minimum personal net worth requirement
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