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July 9, 1999
(Human Resources and Employment)


Solid labour market performance in first half

Human Resources and Employment Minister Julie Bettney today said that the Labour Force Survey for June released by Statistics Canada this morning confirms that Newfoundland and Labrador's labour markets are strengthening. The unemployment rate fell to 16.9 per cent, a drop of 0.5 percentage points from a year earlier, lowering the unemployment rate for June to its lowest level in a decade.

"The numbers show that employment growth in the first half of 1999 was the best in over a decade and the highest of any province," said Minister Bettney. For the first six months of 1999, employment was 5.3 per cent higher than in the first half of last year. The number of jobs increased by 10,000.

"Strong growth in a number of key sectors of the Newfoundland and Labrador economy is leading to greater demand for workers in the province," said Minister Bettney. "The oil industry is expanding, the fishery is enjoying its best performance in a number of years, tourism levels have increased, and higher consumer spending is leading to expansion of activity and jobs in the service sector."

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the number of jobs declined by 2.3 per cent between May and June, partly offsetting the 5.8 per cent gain recorded between April and May. "The seasonally adjusted numbers fluctuate from month to month but the overall trend remains positive," explained Minister Bettney. "The numbers show that employment in the first half of this year was greater than we've ever had. Furthermore, our social assistance caseload continues to improve with a decline of 1,000 cases from this time last year."

Media contact: Lynn Evans, Communications, (709) 729-5611.

1999 07 09         2:25 p.m.


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