In February, Canada’s economy almost regained all of the jobs it lost in the two months prior, and the unemployment rate was the lowest it has been since March 2020.
The number of people employed in February increased by 259,000 after falling by 266,000 over December and January. Statistics Canada derived these data from conducting their monthly Labour Force Survey during the week of February 14 to 20.
Employment rates are the number of people who are working as a percentage of the population of people aged 15 and older. Unemployment is calculated by the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the entire labour force.
In February, the unemployment rate fell to 8.2 per cent, 1.2 percentage points lower than January and the lowest since Canada went into lockdown last year.
Compared with February 2020, there were 599,000 (-3.1 per cent) fewer people employed, and 406,000 (+50 per cent) more people working less than half of their usual hours. The total hours worked increased by 1.4 per cent, driven by gains in wholesale and retail trade.
Employment rebounds in industries most affected by coronavirus-related closures
The number of people working in retail trade as well as accommodation and food services increased in February as coronavirus-related measures were lifted.
Employment in the information, culture, and recreation industry was little changed in February, after several months of steady decline.
February employment increases were concentrated in low-paying jobs of $17.50 per hour or less, which reflects the growth in industries with a high proportion of low-paying jobs.
Employment gains in professional, scientific, and technical services exceed pre-pandemic levels
The number of people working in professional, scientific, and technical services was little changed month over month, but employment in the industry rose 5.6 per cent compared to the same time last year, which is equal to about 86,000 more people working. This is the largest year-over-year increase across all industries. Nearly all of these gains were seen in Ontario and British Columbia. Many businesses in this industry can operate remotely, which allows them to stay open during periods of lockdown.
For this industry, the job vacancy rate was higher than the Canadian average in December, after seeing months of employment growth in the latter part of 2020.
There are about 75,000 more people working in computer and information systems occupations compared to February 2020, including both professional and technical occupations. These year-over-year gains were driven mostly by men and were little changed among women.
Employment rates for very recent immigrants little changed
Coronavirus-related travel restrictions caused the number of newcomers in 2020 to fall to the lowest level since 1998. In February, there were 13.8 per cent fewer very recent immigrants in the labour market compared year-over-year. This group is comprised of permanent residents who landed in Canada within the past five years.
Employment for these newcomers was also down 12.1 per cent compared to the same time frame. As a result, the employment rate for very recent immigrants for the three-month period ending in February was little changed compared to the same time last year.
For immigrants who landed more than five years ago, employment in February was one per cent shy of pre-pandemic levels. Their employment rate was slightly lower than Canadian-born workers, with immigrant employment rates at 57.3 per cent, and Canadian-born workers at 58.3 per cent.
The importance of population growth and employment rate
Canada’s level of employment and employment rate will be important indicators of labour market conditions. Statistics Canada says that in order for Canada to return to pre-pandemic employment rates, the level of employment must increase beyond February 2020 to match population growth that has occurred since then.
Canada’s employment rate in February 2020 was 61.8 per cent. By April, it fell to 51.5 per cent, the lowest level since comparable data became available in 1976. This past February, the employment rate was 59.4 per cent, which is 2.4 percentage points below pre-pandemic levels.
If the population had remained the same year-over-year, the employment rate in February would have been 5.9 percentage points below the pre-pandemic rate. This difference shows the importance of population growth in economic recovery. There has been a small population increase in Canada, although reduced levels of immigrants have slowed growth. In an average year, immigration is responsible for roughly 80 per cent of Canada’s population growth.
The Canadian government committed to welcoming 401,000 new immigrants in 2021. In January alone, immigration rates were comparable to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that Canada is on track to meet its ambitious immigration levels target.
Shelby has worked as a freelance writer, photojournalist and staff video journalist before she came to CIC News in 2019.
She has lived in Manitoba, Alberta, B.C., and now Quebec. Her exposure to life in multiple communities across Canada helps her connect readers with the places where they may end up living someday.
Helping people navigate the complex Canadian immigration system is what drives her to create new, engaging, and comprehensive content for CIC News readers.
Talking to people with interesting stories and insights is the best part of her day. Send story ideas to shelby.thevenot@canadavisa.com.
TORONTO – Canada Goose Holdings Inc. says it has signed a deal that will result in the creation of its first eyewear collection.
The deal announced on Thursday by the Toronto-based luxury apparel company comes in the form of an exclusive, long-term global licensing agreement with Marchon Eyewear Inc.
The terms and value of the agreement were not disclosed, but Marchon produces eyewear for brands including Lacoste, Nike, Calvin Klein, Ferragamo, Longchamp and Zeiss.
Marchon plans to roll out both sunglasses and optical wear under the Canada Goose name next spring, starting in North America.
Canada Goose says the eyewear will be sold through optical retailers, department stores, Canada Goose shops and its website.
Canada Goose CEO Dani Reiss told The Canadian Press in August that he envisioned his company eventually expanding into eyewear and luggage.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Almost seven years since news broke of an alleged conspiracy to fix the price of packaged bread across Canada, the saga isn’t over: the Competition Bureau continues to investigate the companies that may have been involved, and two class-action lawsuits continue to work their way through the courts.
Here’s a timeline of key events in the bread price-fixing case.
Oct. 31, 2017: The Competition Bureau says it’s investigating allegations of bread price-fixing and that it was granted search warrants in the case. Several grocers confirm they are co-operating in the probe.
Dec. 19, 2017: Loblaw and George Weston say they participated in an “industry-wide price-fixing arrangement” to raise the price of packaged bread. The companies say they have been co-operating in the Competition Bureau’s investigation since March 2015, when they self-reported to the bureau upon discovering anti-competitive behaviour, and are receiving immunity from prosecution. They announce they are offering $25 gift cards to customers amid the ongoing investigation into alleged bread price-fixing.
Jan. 31, 2018: In court documents, the Competition Bureau says at least $1.50 was added to the price of a loaf of bread between about 2001 and 2016.
Dec. 20, 2019: A class-action lawsuit in a Quebec court against multiple grocers and food companies is certified against a number of companies allegedly involved in bread price-fixing, including Loblaw, George Weston, Metro, Sobeys, Walmart Canada, Canada Bread and Giant Tiger (which have all denied involvement, except for Loblaw and George Weston, which later settled with the plaintiffs).
Dec. 31, 2021: A class-action lawsuit in an Ontario court covering all Canadian residents except those in Quebec who bought packaged bread from a company named in the suit is certified against roughly the same group of companies.
June 21, 2023: Bakery giant Canada Bread Co. is fined $50 million after pleading guilty to four counts of price-fixing under the Competition Act as part of the Competition Bureau’s ongoing investigation.
Oct. 25 2023: Canada Bread files a statement of defence in the Ontario class action denying participating in the alleged conspiracy and saying any anti-competitive behaviour it participated in was at the direction and to the benefit of its then-majority owner Maple Leaf Foods, which is not a defendant in the case (neither is its current owner Grupo Bimbo). Maple Leaf calls Canada Bread’s accusations “baseless.”
Dec. 20, 2023: Metro files new documents in the Ontario class action accusing Loblaw and its parent company George Weston of conspiring to implicate it in the alleged scheme, denying involvement. Sobeys has made a similar claim. The two companies deny the allegations.
July 25, 2024: Loblaw and George Weston say they agreed to pay a combined $500 million to settle both the Ontario and Quebec class-action lawsuits. Loblaw’s share of the settlement includes a $96-million credit for the gift cards it gave out years earlier.
Sept. 12, 2024: Canada Bread files new documents in Ontario court as part of the class action, claiming Maple Leaf used it as a “shield” to avoid liability in the alleged scheme. Maple Leaf was a majority shareholder of Canada Bread until 2014, and the company claims it’s liable for any price-fixing activity. Maple Leaf refutes the claims.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Companies in this story: (TSX:L, TSX:MFI, TSX:MRU, TSX:EMP.A, TSX:WN)
TORONTO – TD Bank Group, which is mired in a money laundering scandal in the U.S., says chief executive Bharat Masrani will retire next year.
Masrani, who will retire officially on April 10, 2025, says the bank’s, “anti-money laundering challenges,” took place on his watch and he takes full responsibility.
The bank named Raymond Chun, TD’s group head, Canadian personal banking, as his successor.
As part of a transition plan, Chun will become chief operating officer on Nov. 1 before taking over the top job when Masrani steps down at the bank’s annual meeting next year.
TD also announced that Riaz Ahmed, group head, wholesale banking and president and CEO of TD Securities, will retire at the end of January 2025.
TD has taken billions in charges related to ongoing U.S. investigations into the failure of its anti-money laundering program.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
