Employment in Canada increases by 259,000 positions in February

The most recent release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows a significant increase in employment during the month of February. During that month, employment rose by 259,000 jobs, and the overall unemployment rate declined from 9.4% (in January 2021) to 8.2% in February.

Notwithstanding the February employment gains, there are still significantly fewer people employed and fully employed than was the case one year ago. According to StatsCan, compared with 12 months earlier, there were 599,000 fewer people employed in February 2021, and 406,000 more people working less than half of their usual hours.

More details of the employment picture for the month, by province, demographic group, and industry, can be found in the February release of the Labour Force Survey, available on the StatsCan website at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210312/dq210312a-eng.htm?HPA=1&indid=3587-2&indgeo=0.