Employment numbers continue upwards trend

Newfoundland and Labrador continued to record employment growth on a year over year basis for the month of September.

According to Statistics Canada�s latest Labour Force Survey, employment in the province grew by 0.6 per cent, or approximately 1,300 jobs, as compared to the same month last year. Along with the employment increases came labour force growth as more people actively sought work. As a result, the unemployment rate rose to 14.6 per cent as compared to 13.5 per cent in September 2001.

"I�m encouraged by increases in the employment and labour force figures,"said Ralph Wiseman, Minister of Human Resources and Employment. "We remain optimistic about the prospects for employment growth, particularly in construction, offshore oil, and customer contact centres. These industries should drive employment growth for the balance of this year and into 2003."

September�s employment gains were concentrated in management services, professional, scientific and technical services, and the fishery.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment decreased by 1.5 per cent while the unemployment rate stood at 16.8 per cent, an increase of 1.1 percentage points from August 2002. Seasonally adjusted data looks at patterns of employment change within the current year from one month to the next, whereas the actual data compares employment this year to employment last year.

Media contact: Simon N. Lono, Communications, (709) 729-4062.

2002 10 11                   4:15 p.m.