Stagnant labour market persists: Part-time job gains overshadowed by loss of full time jobs in today’s numbers

Today’s job numbers show that Canada’s labour market continues to be stagnant, and that the trend of creating only part-time precarious work persists.

A gain of 57,000 part-time jobs, mostly in health care, education and wholesale and retail trade, was soured by a loss of 28,000 full-time jobs, mostly in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

Three quarters of all new jobs created since 2008 have been part-time, temporary or in the self-employed sector. Compared to the first quarter of 2014, the first three months of 2015 shows 90 per cent of all jobs created were either temporary or in the self-employed category.

“These numbers demonstrate again that the federal government must use its upcoming budget to create the quality, secure full-time jobs Canadians urgently need,” said CLC president Hassan Yussuff.

“We already have one million Canadians juggling multiple jobs just to make ends meet, and these numbers show that the number of people living this kind of unpredictable, exhausting and unsustainable work life is on the rise.”

Statistics Canada also reports that Canada’s unemployment rate is still higher than in the US at 5.9 to their 5.5.

“Canada’s manufacturing sector just hasn’t benefited from US economic growth the way many hoped it would,” said Yussuff.

“That’s why it is crucial that the upcoming budget creates good quality full-time jobs in new ways, such as by listening to municipalities and announcing much needed investments in public infrastructure such as waste water management and public transit,” he added.

Today’s numbers did not provide good news for young workers and core-age workers between 25 and 54.

“The federal budget must finally address our youth unemployment rate of 13 per cent and announce a young workers job strategy that would provide jobs, paid internships, or more training after graduation from post-secondary education,” said Yussuff.

“For core age workers we need to increase access to Employment Insurance and ensure workers can benefit from training with the support they need from start to finish,” he added.