Canadian employment was little changed in July, leaving growth so far in 2007 at 1.3%, similar to the growth rate in the first seven months of 2006. The unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage points to 6.0%, the lowest since 1974.

 Alberta showed a significant employment increase in July, as an estimated 14,000 more people were working. This pushed Alberta’s employment rate back to its record high of 71.6%.  Gains in July were in full-time work, and mainly in health care and social assistance and trade.

 In Ontario, manufacturing employment was up an estimated 27,000 in July, the first significant increase in more than a year, with gains spread across several manufacturing industries. There were also gains in professional, scientific and technical services, while employment declined in educational services.

Employment in Nova Scotia declined by an estimated 3,000 in July, continuing the weakness observed since May 2007.

New Jobs in Canada between June 2007 and July 2007

10 Aug 2007