Manufacturing the sole industry showing job losses in February

The February rise in employment in Canada, which saw an increase of 51,000 jobs, was spread across the professional, scientific, and technical services; the accommodation and food services; public administration; and agriculture. Manufacturing was the only industry to post a decline for the month, according to Statistics Canada.

professional-scientific-services-employment-Canada-EDIWeekly
Employment in professional, scientific and technical services rose by 26,000 in February, Statistics Canada reports. returning to a level similar to that of 12 months earlier.

On a year-over-year basis, employment in the country grew by 1.9 per cent, or 336,000 jobs, with the greatest gains (35,000) in Ontario. Most of the jobs were full time, and more were in the private sector than the public sector.

Despite the gains in Ontario, the unemployment rate remained at 7.7 per cent, with more people seeking jobs. The year-over-year gain in Ontario was 1.7 per cent, slightly below the national average.

The number of workers in manufacturing declined by 26,000 in February, leaving the employment rate in this industry little changed, Statistics Canada said, compared to where it stood twelve months earlier. Growth last spring was offset by declines later in the summer.

Trucking industry experienced growth in 2011

Canada’s trucking companies hauled more freight in 2011 than in the previous year, Statistics Canada reported today. Tonnage hauled was up 4.8 per cent, to 601 million tonnes. This was close to the record 604 million tonnes set in 2007.

Most of the growth was in freight hauled within Canada. Domestic tonnage rose to 520 million tonnes and accounted for 87 per cent of the total weight hauled.

The weight of goods hauled between Canada and the United States and Mexico rose 3.5 per cent compared to 2010, to 80 million tonnes.

Ontario was the principal origin for freight shipped within Canada, with 141 million tonnes originating here. Alberta and Quebec were next in volume, with the three provinces together accounting for 71 per cent of all domestic shipments by weight.

The top commodities transported were general freight, gravel and crushed stone, wood products, prepared foods, and crude petroleum.

Did you miss this?

Scroll to Top