Job Search in Canada

Over the course of the year started October 2009 and ended October 2010, non-farm payroll employees saw their average weekly earnings increase by 4.4%, up to $863.33.

The rate of earnings growth has been rising over the past few months. October was the third month in a row that recorded a year-over-year rate of growth greater than 4.0%. Before this period, the rise exceeded 3.0% for four consecutive months. For the majority of 2009, the growth rate was less than 2.0%.

Part of the weekly earnings growth for October 2009-2010 can be attributed to a 0.9% rise in the number of hours worked per week, on average. The rest of the increase is a reflection of several other factors, which include wage growth, job experience, changes in occupations within industry, and changes in the composition of employment by industry.

Every province reported an increase in average weekly earnings, with growth slowest in Prince Edward Island, and growth at the national average or higher in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

With weekly earnings going up, now is the perfect time to find a job. Do a job search in Canada at JobVirtue.com.

The state labor department said yesterday that Georgia’s rate of unemployment spiked to 10.1% last month, up from a revised 9.8% in October.

Pretty much no progress has been made compared with a year ago, when the unemployment rate was at 10.2% in November 2009. This November marked the 38^th month in a row that the rate of unemployment in Georgia was greater than the national rate (9.8%).

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said, in a statement, “The unemployment rate is up because of increases in new layoffs and in the number of long-term unemployed.”

November saw the number of long-term unemployed jump to 252,200, representing the number of people who have been unemployed for a minimum of 27 weeks. This is a rise of 4.8% from October and 59.8% from November 2009.

Those unemployed over the long-term currently account for 53.7% of the 469,702 unemployed workers in Georgia. Last year, the long-term unemployed represented 32.0% of those out of work.

Last month, the amount of payroll positions grew by 0.2% up to 3,849,500, according to the labor department. The majority of increases took place in educational and health services, professional and business services, and retail trade.

And yet, the number of jobs is still 0.1% less than what it was in November 2009.

Additionally, 67,714 laid-off employees filed their first claims for unemployment insurance benefits last month, which represents an increase of 17.8% from October.

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A report released today by RBC Economics shows that the employment sector in Alberta will be leading Canada next year with a rise of 2.3%, up considerably from a slight 0.5% in 2010. The latest Provincial Outlook report noted that the expected rise means the addition of 37,000 jobs and “will usher in the highest total of new employment opportunities since 2007 which should ultimately contribute to a boost in population growth.” RBC says the Alberta economy is continuing in its recovery from the “severe” recession it experienced with real GDP ready to increase by 3.4% in 2010 and then spike to 4.3% next year. In 2011, economic growth in Alberta will be second only to Saskatchewan – which will clock in at 5.3% – which represents the fastest growth in the province as of 2006. Craig Wright, senior vice president and chief economist for RBC, said that employment market improvements led to a reversal of net migration outflow to other provinces that, earlier on, slowed down growth in population to the lowest level it’s been in over a decade. Such are the turnarounds what will be spreading the recover more broadly across the Alberta economy in 2011. Next year, sales in retail are predicted to rise to a 5.6% rate, greater than in any other province. In 2012, spending related to energy and the expansion of non-conventional production of oil will help boost Alberta’s economy. RBC predicts economic growth of 3.1% this year, 3.2% the next, and 3.1% the next. Whether in Alberta or elsewhere, things are looking up. Do a job search through Canada at JobVirtue.com.

In Canada, work under contract has surged above and beyond all other employment forms over the last ten years, outpacing the rise in unemployment during the 2008 global financial crisis and the resulting recession. According to a recent Statistics Canada report, last year, 52% of temporary jobs were by contract, and accounted for close to one million employees. A large percentage of contract employees are professionals, and tend to work in the health, education, and public administration sectors. Contract employees are also slightly younger and more educated than permanent workers. Yet workers under contract are usually paid nearly 14% less per hour worked than permanent employees, while getting by with little or no benefits and decreased job security. Altogether, 2009 registered 1.8 million workers in temporary positions, which accounted for 12.5% of paid employment. This is a mild decline from the 2005 peak of 13.2%. On the other hand, the average employment growth rate per year decreased to 1.1% for permanent positions and by 0.4% for temporary positions. In the period between 2005 and 2009, there was a decline of over 3% in seasonal employment, especially in fields like manufacturing, fishing and forestry, and accommodation and food services. Casual employment, or positions with flexible hours that depend on employers’ needs, dove by over 10% in the same period. About 47% of casual workers are 25 years of age or younger. Close to 25% of that group are students. The gap in wages between casual and seasonal jobs and permanent positions is even greater, at nearly 34%. Do a job search in Canada at JobVirtue.com.

Last month, there was essentially no change in employment for the second month in a row, as full-time jobs gains offset part-time job losses. The unemployment rate has decreased to 7.9% and hovered at 8% for the last seven months.

From October of last year, total employment has advanced by 2.2% (up 375,000), mainly due to a strong reading over the first two quarters of 2010, when growth in employment was at an average of 51,000 a month. Yet over the last four months, gains per month were at average of 5,700.

Last month also saw an increase in private sector employment, while self-employment fell. Employment in the public sector remained the same.

About 47,000 full-time jobs were added, while 44,000 part-time jobs were shed. In the last three months, part-time losses were offset by gains in full-time employment.

Among individuals aged 55 years or more, there was an increase in employment, particularly among women. Additionally, there was a decline in employment for those between the ages of 25 and 54.

In October, Alberta registered gains in employment, while Nova Scotia posted a loss. In the rest of the provinces, there was little change.

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Employment has gone back to the levels seen before the recession, but the rate of job creation has slowed down relative to late 2009 and early 2010. Economists predict modest labour gains in the coming months. A recent report showing a rise in consumer confidence reflects the entrance of more people into the job market, though the unemployment rate is persistently high. In two of the last three months, the economy lost jobs. This is consistent with the Bank of Canada’s outlook on consumer spending, which predicts will be subdued in the coming months, after helping to fuel the early stages of the economic recovery.

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Employment has gone back to the levels seen before the recession, but the rate of job creation has slowed down relative to late 2009 and early 2010.

Economists predict modest labour gains in the coming months. A recent report showing a rise in consumer confidence reflects the entrance of more people into the job market, though the unemployment rate is persistently high. In two of the last three months, the economy lost jobs. This is consistent with the Bank of Canada’s outlook on consumer spending, which predicts will be subdued in the coming months, after helping to fuel the early stages of the economic recovery.

Jobs are up. Get in on the action by doing a job search at JobVirtue.com.

In August, the Canadian economy rebounded after a modest decline in July, but economists say that the outlook is still uncertain and the rate of expansion will likely be rather slow.

Statistics Canada said today that the GDP advanced by 0.3% after a slight decline of 0.1% in July, a development that adhered to forecasts made by economists.

Most economic sectors grew, with wholesale trade bouncing back from a three-month run of declines to increase by 1.1%, and oil and gas gaining 0.5%.

StatCan also said that manufacturing grew by 0.5%, with gains reported in 13 out of 21 sectors.

The August statistics mean that economic growth in the third quarter will come close on the heels of the Bank of Canada’s revised forecast of a modest 1.6%, experts said. BoC Governor Mark Carney said that Canada’s economy has slowed down to a greater degree than predicted, with the housing market and domestic demand losing traction.

The economy is bouncing back; are you? Do a job search in Canada at JobVirtue.com.

After fluctuating between negative and positive, the Toronto Stock Exchange was nearly flat today.

The S&P/TSX composite index declined by 5.49 points (or 0.04%) to 12,658.09. The materials sector grew, while financials and energy decreased.

In the US, the Dow Jones industrial average slipped by 5.6 points (or 0.05%) to 11,158.45. The Nasdaq composite index increased by 4.81 points (or 0.19%) to 2,495.66.

The stock market is sending mixed signals, but one thing is clear: finding work is as important as ever. Visit JobVirtue.com and do a job search through Canada.

Government data showed that, in September, the leading economic indicator for Canada recorded an unexpected decrease, the worst it’s done in over a year. Measuring business cycles, the Composite Leading Index dropped by 0.1% last month, the first decrease it posted since April 2009. Experts predicted that the index would rise by the same percentage amount. Five of ten components in the index dropped, with housing in the lead with the biggest decrease. The housing index declined (by 4%) for the third month in a row. Appliance and furniture sales also posted a decline in time with the slowdown in the real estate market.

The economy is suffering, but why should you? Do a job search in Canada at JobVirtue.com.