City jobless dips to 8.1 per cent in June

Greater Sudbury added 400 jobs last month, StatsCan says

Greater Sudbury's jobless rate dipped slightly in June, according to Statistics Canada's monthly labour force survey. The rate dropped to 8.4 per cent last month, compared to 8.7 per cent in May. At the same time last year, it was 7.3 per cent. File photo

Greater Sudbury's jobless rate dipped slightly in June, according to Statistics Canada's monthly labour force survey.

The rate dropped to 8.4 per cent last month, compared to 8.7 per cent in May. At the same time last year, it was 7.3 per cent.

In raw numbers, 80,500 people in the city had jobs in June, out of a total workforce of 87,900. In May, 80,100 were working from a workforce of 87,700, while 84,300 people had a job in June 2015.

Employment was virtually unchanged in Ontario. With fewer people participating in the labour market, the unemployment rate fell from 6.6 per cent to 6.4 per cent, the lowest rate since September 2008. On a year-over-year-basis, employment in the province grew by 63,000, or 0.9 per cent. Canada-wide, unemployment was 6.8 per cent in June, the same as May.

Following a gain in May, employment in construction was down 29,000 in June. Before adjusting for seasonal factors, the number of people working in this industry rose from May to June. However, the increase was smaller than usual, resulting in a seasonally adjusted decrease. On a year-over-year basis, employment in construction was little changed.

Also following an increase in May, employment in manufacturing declined by 13,000 in June, bringing year-over-year losses to 30,000, StatsCan reported. Employment in manufacturing has been on a downward trend since the start of 2016.

The number of people working in other services, such as services related to religious, grant-making, civic, and professional organizations, also decreased in June, by 9,300. Year over year, however, employment in this industry was up 23,000.

While employment in natural resources was little changed in June, it was down 11.4 per cent from 12 months earlier, with most of this decrease occurring since the start of 2016.

On the other hand, employment rose 20,000 in accommodation and food services. This was the third increase in four months for the industry.

Employment in public administration was virtually unchanged in June, following a gain of 19,000 in May. Over the two months, employment rose in federal public administration, coinciding with activities related to the 2016 Census. The increase was concentrated among survey interviewers and statistical clerks, an occupational group that corresponds with the type of work done during federal elections and censuses.

Unemployment rates in June 2016 in selected Ontario cities (previous month in brackets):