愛污传媒

Skip to main content

Job growth numbers 'good news' in Canada but there are concerns, according to an economist

Share

An economist says the latest job growth numbers in Canada are "good news," but he has concerns following Statistics Canada's report.

Last month, Canada's unemployment rate fell for the first time since January by 0.1 percentage points to 6.5 per cent, according to Statistics Canada in its for September released Friday. The figure had risen 0.2 percentage points in August.

In addition, StatCan said the economy added 47,000 jobs in September, up slightly by 0.2 per cent, after four straight months of little change. Employment rose among youth aged 15 to 24 and women aged 25 to 54. Job increases were seen in Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and Nova Scotia, while declines were experienced in British Columbia and New Brunswick.

While Pedro Antunes, chief economist at the Conference Board of Canada, called the job growth numbers "good news," he said the decrease in the employment rate is a concern. The , the percentage of the population aged 15 and older who are employed, fell 0.1 percentage point to 60.7 per cent, according to StatCan. This is down from a peak of 62.4 per cent in January and February 2023.

Although job growth has been "pretty good," Antunes said, the number of people entering the workforce has grown even more.

"This is because we have opened up a lot of immigration, a lot of temporary foreign workers. So, we've seen essentially the employment rate decline and the job market slackening," Antunes said in an interview with 愛污传媒 Channel on Friday.

The unemployment rate's decline last month still suggests a "fairly slack labour market," he added.

"Now the government is intending to put the breaks on temporary foreign workers and essentially non-permanent resident immigration," he said. "I think that is going to continue to tighten up the labour market as we go forward even in a soft job-generating environment."

Recently announced changes to the temporary foreign worker program went into effect last month.

To see the full interview, watch the video above.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

A Toronto woman said the cost of parking to visit her mother in hospital, and later in long term care, for 15 months was a financial burden she feels she shouldn鈥檛 have had to pay.

Ontario Provincial Police charged an impaired Vermont man who illegally crossed the border into Canada and thought he was still in the United States.

The University Health Network is making masks mandatory as respiratory illness season ramps up.

A Quebec-based religion says Health Canada is dragging its feet on a decision whether to allow members to use magic mushrooms in their ceremonies.

愛污传媒 is projecting the New Brunswick Liberals will form a majority government in the province, returning to power for the first time since 2018. Leader Susan Holt will become the first female premier of the province.

Local Spotlight

A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the 鈥楩ellow in Yellow.鈥

John Cantin vividly remembers opening day for his Victoria diner. Stress levels were high, tables were full, and one of the most popular menu items couldn鈥檛 be freed from the unyielding grip of the waffle maker.

A Manitoba professor is warning the public after a book on regional mushrooms that he suspects is AI-generated was delisted from Amazon.

A B.C. judge has issued a decision in a years-long dispute between neighbours that began with a noise complaint over barking dogs, crowing roosters and quacking ducks 鈥 awarding $15,000 in damages to the plaintiffs in the case.

Stay Connected