Released on Friday, the April StatsCan Labour Force Survey indicates a 0.1% decline in Canada’s overall unemployment rate, which now stands at 5.7%.
Over the past year, employment has grown 2.3%, increasing most dramatically in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and PEI.
Employment statistics indicate that more young people, seniors, and women aged 25 to 54 were employed in April, particularly in trade and construction industries. Other industries with employment increases included information, culture, and recreation in Ontario and public administration in Quebec.
The employment increases were most significant in the public and private sectors, while there was no change to the number of self-employed people. Private sector employment saw the largest boom, with 84,000 more workers employed in the sector last month.
The StatsCan reporting will be used to help measure the economic growth and industry innovation goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development plan.