City's job force shrunk in July

Greater Sudbury's jobless rate dipped to 6.9 per cent in July, but it wasn't good news. According to Statistics Canada, the rate dropped because fewer people were looking for work. The number of people with jobs declined by 600.

There were 82,200 people with jobs in the city last month, compared to 82,800 in June. But the number of people in the labour force dropped in July, to 88,300 from 89,500 in June.

The numbers are comparable to the same time period in 2012 when the jobless rate was 7.1 per cent. Last July, there were 82,000 people with jobs in the city, out of a labour force of 88,300.

Nationally, employment decreased by 39,000, led by declines among young people looking for work. The overal unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 7.2 per cent, StatsCan reported Friday.

“With this decrease, employment gains averaged 11,000 per month over the past six months, slower than the average of 27,000 observed during the preceding six-month period,” it said in a news release. “In July, employment declined in Quebec, British Colombia, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, as well as in Newfoundland and Labrador. At the same time, there were increases in Alberta, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.”

Employment slumped in a number of sectors nation-wide, led by health care and social assistance, public administration and information, culture and recreation. The declines were partly offset by gains in business, building and other support services.

But it hit young people the hardest, StatsCan reported.

“Employment declines were concentrated among youths aged 15 to 24, due to less hiring this July compared to previous Julys,” the release said. “There were also declines among women aged 55 and over, while there was little change among people aged 25 to 54 and men aged 55 and over.”

Employment among youths aged 15 to 24 fell by 46,000, due to less hiring this July compared to previous Julys. Their unemployment rate was little changed at 13.9 per cent, as fewer youth participated in the labour force.

“Compared with 12 months earlier, youth employment was little changed,” StatsCan reported.

In Ontario, employment was little changed in July, and the unemployment rate was 7.6 per cent. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment in the province was up by 1.2 per cent.

By comparison, the unemployment rate in the U.S. last month was 7.4 per cent, down 0.8 percentage points from 12 months earlier. The U.S. rate remains well above the Canadian rate of 6.3 per cent, when calculated using U.S. methods. In Canada, the unemployment rate was unchanged from a year earlier.