Sluggish Sudbury economy sheds about 1,000 jobs

Greater Sudbury's sluggish economy continued to shed jobs in November, with the city's unemployment rate climbing to 8.2 per cent.

The number of people working last month in the city declined by about 1,000 compared to October, according to Statistics Canada's monthly labour force survey.

The survey found that there were about 80,200 people with jobs in Greater Sudbury last month, out of a total workforce of 87,400. That compares to the 81,200 people working in October, when the workforce was 87,700.

In November 2014, the jobless rate was 6.2 per cent, and 83,700 people were working out of a labour force of 89,2000.

While employment in Sudbury declined, the picture provincially was a little brighter. StatsCan said Ontario employment was also little changed in November, with the unemployment rate at 6.9 per cent.

“In the 12 months to November, gains in full-time work were offset by declines in part-time work,” the report said.

Nationally, employment decreased by 36,000 (or -0.2 per cent) in November, the result of losses in part-time work, the survey said.

“The overall employment decline in November followed a similar-sized increase in October,” StatsCan said. “The unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 7.1 per cent in November.”

Compared with 12 months earlier, employment increased by 124,000 or 0.7 per cent, with all the growth in full-time work. Over the same period, the number of hours worked grew by 1.1 per cent.

In November, employment declined among youths aged 15 to 24, while there was little change among the other demographic groups.

Provincially, employment fell in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. In the other provinces, employment was virtually unchanged.

There were fewer people employed in public administration; wholesale and retail trade; information, culture and recreation; as well as finance, insurance, real estate and leasing. At the same time, there were more people employed in professional, scientific and technical services, manufacturing, construction, and agriculture.

The number of employees decreased in both the private and public sectors in November, while the number of self-employed increased.

Among people aged 25 to 54, employment was virtually unchanged in both November and on a year-over-year basis. Compared with November 2014, the unemployment rate for people in this group increased 0.6 percentage points to 6.1 per cent as more of them searched for work.

Employment among people aged 55 and older was little changed in November. However, their unemployment rate increased 0.6 percentage points to 6.0 per cent as more of them were seeking work. In the 12 months to November, employment for this group rose 184,000 (+5.3 per cent). Over the same period, the population of this group increased by 311,000 (+3.1 per cent).

Employment in public administration declined by 33,000 in November, offsetting an increase of 32,000 in October that coincided with activities related to the federal election. On a year-over-year basis, employment in this industry was virtually unchanged.

In November, there were 16,000 fewer people employed in the wholesale and retail trade industry, with most of the decline in the wholesale sector. Employment in this industry was little changed compared with a year earlier.

Employment fell by 12,000 in information, culture and recreation in November, bringing employment back to a level similar to that of 12 months earlier.

The number of workers in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing was down 11,000 in November. Compared with 12 months earlier, however, employment in this industry was virtually unchanged.