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In Manitoba, full-time employment was up 5,700, a 1.1% increase, almost equal to the national average. Part-time employment increased by 2,400, an increase of 1.9%. The provincial unemployment rate edged down to 8.1%, which ranks second in Canada. Private sector employment, including self-employed, increased by 8,200, a 1.8% gain from August to July.
Overall, the pace of gains in Canada’s job market slowed in August, as Statistics Canada reported the economy added 246,000 jobs, and other data that experts say suggests billions in government benefits isn’t stopping people from getting back into the workforce.
Friday’s report, released just ahead of the Labour Day long weekend, marked the fourth consecutive month of gains after jobless claims spiked during lockdowns in March and April. That brings the overall employment number to within 1.1 million of pre-pandemic levels.
The vast majority of gains were in full-time work, which recorded a bump of 206,000, and which had been lagging behind gains in part-time employment, which rose by 40,000 from July.
In Manitoba, youth employment increased by 4,400 positions, further indication that Manitoba’s youth programs are working.
“We have led the country with some of the most effective economic development and support programs to help Manitobans navigate and bounce back from this challenging time,” said Eichler. “From the beginning, we have targeted our #RestartMB programs with a focus on getting Manitobans back to work. The youth employment bump especially is a testament to the success of our youth employment initiatives, such as our Urban and Conservation Green Teams, the Student Jobs MB portal, and our Student Wage Subsidy.”
