After the disastrous losses in April, the Canadian economy has regained over half of all jobs lost during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the July Canadian Labour Force Survey. The July survey was hot on the heels of the incredible gains seen in the June report that recorded nearly one million jobs created.
July Canadian Labour Force Survey Numbers
In July Canada added 345,000 (+11.3%) part-time jobs and 73,000 (+0.5%) full-time jobs for a total of 419,000 (+2.4%) jobs. Job gains were recorded in all provinces and territories with Ontario seeing the greatest gains, adding 151,000 jobs. The July report is another promising sign the Canadian economy is rebounding after the unprecedented losses earlier in 2020.
Temporary layoffs declined sharply for a second consecutive month, down 384,000 (-45.5%) and the number of Canadians working from home also dropped by 400,000.
In July, employment rose faster among women (+3.4% or +275,000) than men (+1.5% or +144,000) but, women are still participating less in the labour market when compared to pre-pandemic levels. A gap of 1.4% remains between labour participation rates for women in February (83.4%) when compared to July (82.0%).
Unemployment is also down by 1.4%, from 12.3% to 10.9%, but, the recent employment gains are not shared equally across all segments of the Canadian labour force.
Job gains not shared equally across the population
The July jobs report highlights successes but the gains are not shared equally among all Canadians. The Canadian Labour Survey collected additional information on rates of employment for visible minorities in July. The results highlight disparities between unemployment rates for visible minorities compared to other groups.
South Asian, Arab and Black Canadians had among the highest unemployment rates in July 2020.
- Not Aboriginal or a visible minority: 9.3%
- Filipino: 13.2%
- Chinese: 14.0%
- Latin American: 16.0%
- Black: 16.8%
- Southeast Asian: 16.5%
- Arab: 17.3%
- South Asian: 17.8%
- Average unemployment rate: 10.9%
A trio of federal cabinet ministers in a statement said the collection of this new information on visible minorities is a “critical first step towards addressing inequity in our labour force.”
Lauren Boorman
