Ottawa – Employment rose by 35,000 (+0.2%) in March, and the unemployment rate held steady at 5.0%. There were more people employed in transportation and warehousing (+41,000; +4.2%); business, building and other support services (+31,000; +4.4%); as well as finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+19,000; +1.3%).
At the same time, employment declined in construction (-19,000; -1.2%); “other services” (which includes personal and repair services) (-11,000; -1.5%); and natural resources (-11,000; -3.2%).
There were fewer women aged 55 to 64 working (-13,000; -0.8%), partially offsetting gains in the previous month. Overall, employment was unchanged among women and rose among men.
The number of employees grew in the private sector (+35,000; +0.3%) in March, while there was little change in public sector employment and in the number of self-employed workers.
Employment increased in Ontario (+21,000; +0.3%), Alberta (+14,000; +0.6%), Manitoba (+3,300; +0.5%) and Prince Edward Island (+1,700; +2.0%). There were fewer people employed in Saskatchewan (-4,300; -0.7%). There was little change in employment in the other provinces.
Total hours worked rose 0.4% in March and were up 1.6% on a year-over-year basis.
Average hourly wages rose 5.3% (+$1.68 to $33.12) on a year-over-year basis in March, compared with 5.4% in February (not seasonally adjusted). The employment rate of South Asian core-aged (25 to 54 years old) Canadians increased in the 12 months to March.
Employment increases in March
Employment grew by 35,000 (+0.2%) in March, following little change in February and strong growth in January (+150,000) and December (+69,000). Employment has generally trended up since September 2022. Over that period, the number of people employed has increased by 383,000 (+1.9%).
Employment gains in March were concentrated among private sector employees (+35,000; +0.3%). There was little change in the number of public sector employees and self-employed workers.
Employment up in three industries, led by transportation and warehousing
The number of people working in transportation and warehousing rose by 41,000 (+4.2%) in March, following little change in February, and offsetting a net decline of 41,000 from February 2022 to January 2023.
Following a decline in February 2023, employment in business, building and other support services—which includes activities that support the day-to-day operations of organizations, ranging from waste management to administrative services—was up by 31,000 (+4.4%) in March. It was the first monthly increase for the industry since November 2021. The number of workers in business, building and other support services in March was the highest since February 2020.
There were more people working in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+19,000; +1.3%) in March 2023, continuing an upward trend over the last year. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the industry grew by 58,000 (+4.3%).
Employment gains in three industries
In the construction industry, employment fell by 19,000 (-1.2%) in March, following little change in February and partly offsetting cumulative increases of 42,000 in December and January.
The number of people working in natural resources was down 11,000 (-3.2%) in March, following eight months of little change. This decline was concentrated in Quebec (-5,000; -11.8%), which accounted for almost half of the monthly national decrease.
Employment in health care and social assistance was little changed in March, following increases in January (+40,000; +1.5%) and February (+15,000; +0.6%). The number of job vacancies in the sector increased to its highest level on record in January.
Employment in professional, scientific and technical services held steady in March for a third consecutive month. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the industry was up 5.2% (+93,000), largely reflecting strong gains in the spring and fall of 2022.