NLIS 8
May 9, 2003
(Human Resources and Employment)

 

April sees stability in employment numbers

Employment in Newfoundland and Labrador remained relatively stable in April with records set in employment, the participation rate and labour force size, according to the latest Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada. This reinforces the positive trends which started at the beginning of 2001.

Employment averaged 205,100 in April, compared to 204,700 in April of last year. Over the same period, the labour force participation rate increased 1.4 percentage points to 58.0 percent. Consequently, the labour force experienced growth of 2.6 percent, or 6,400 persons, to 254,900.

These are record highs in labour force size and participation rates for the month of April. Because labour force growth exceeded employment growth, the unemployment rate increased by 1.8 percentage points on a year-over-year basis and stood at 19.5 percent for April 2003.

"So far this year we have experienced an increase in employment every month; we hope that this positive trend can continue. It�s clear from the numbers that the people of the province are optimistic and confident heading into the summer," said Ralph Wiseman, Minister of Human Resources and Employment.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, employment decreased by 0.4 per cent while the unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to stand at 17.3 per cent. 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 Lono, Communications, (709) 729-4062

2003 05 09                                       4:00 p.m.


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