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October 28, 1999
(Finance)


Population estimates show improvement

The latest population figures released by Statistics Canada show a significantly higher level of population for the province than had been previously projected. In April, Statistics Canada projected that the province's population on July 1 would be 534,281 for a year-over-year decline of 1.9 per cent. The actual population estimates recently released by Statistics Canada, however, showed a much smaller decline of 0.8 per cent to a population number of 541,164.

"Our population is nearly 7,000 higher than Statistics Canada had projected," said Minister Dicks. "The difference is mainly the result of an improvement in migration trends."

The number of people moving to Newfoundland and Labrador from other parts of Canada totalled almost 11,000 in 1998-99, up close to 50 per cent from levels recorded in the previous census year.

"This was the largest in-migration total for any census year since the mid-1970s," said Minister Dicks. "More Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are returning to the province as a result of significantly improved job prospects." In the first nine months of this year, the average level of employment rose by 11,000 for a growth rate of 5.6 per cent - the highest of any province.

This job growth also helped end an upward trend in out-migration as the number of people leaving for other provinces declined in 1998-99. The result was a net interprovincial out-migration total of 5,625 for the year, down 3,865 or 40.7 per cent from the peak level recorded in 1997-98. The net migration loss to other provinces was the lowest since 1993-94.

"The figures for the past year ended a seven-year period of rising net out-migration and are a clear indication of the strong economic gains being made in the province," noted Minister Dicks.

"Statistics Canada has made errors in its populations projections before," said Minister Dicks. "Forecasting population of individual provinces is difficult and subject to considerable error. For example, in 1994 Statistics Canada projected that our population would be 581,200 in 1998. However, the actual population turned out to be 545,600, an error of 35,600."

Media contact: Paula Dyke, Communications, (709) 729-0329.

1999 10 28                       3:15 p.m.


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