February 5, 1999
(Human Resources and Employment)

Positive trend in employment growth continues

Human Resources and Employment Minister Julie Bettney said today that she is pleased to see year over year gains in the number of people employed in Newfoundland and Labrador for the fifth consecutive month. The minister also noted that the unemployment rate for January is at its lowest since 1991. Statistics Canada released its Labour Force Survey for January this morning.

"There were 6,100 more people working in the province this January than a year earlier, for an increase of 3.4 per cent," noted the minister. "It is heartening to see that our economic growth is supporting greater levels of employment, while at the same time the social assistance case load dipped below 31,000 cases for the first time since October 1993."

The 3.4 per cent employment gain was led by growth in wholesale and retail trade and accommodation and food services industries. These industries are benefitting from an increase in consumer spending, including an estimated increase of 3.5 per cent in retail trade in 1998. The construction and manufacturing industries have also recorded gains, with several major projects underway.

Minister Bettney pointed out that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January declined by 1.1 percentage points on a month over month basis. This was mainly a result of the 2,400 increase in jobs from December.

Media contact: Karen Kelloway, (709) 729-4062.

1999 02 05 1:15 p.m.