A new report by the Canadian Labour Congress warns that the current employment market isn’t yet the kind of job market that prevailed before the recession hit in 2008REBECCA COOK
Friday brings the latest snapshot of Canada's job market.
Economists expect the economy will generate 20,000 new jobs in March and the jobless rate will fall slightly to 7.7 per cent.
In other words, a slow, steady recovery.
A new report by Canadian Labour Congress economist Sylvain Schetagne warns this isn't yet the kind of job market that prevailed before the recession hit in 2008:
- There are still 30 per cent more unemployed Canadians -- 1.5 million, or 30.1 per cent more than in October, 2008.
- The unemployment rate is 1.6 percentage-points higher -- 7.8 per cent v. 6.2 per cent in Oct. 2008.
- The sheer number of jobs is back above pre-recession levels, but not the quality. Significantly more people are working part-time, in temporary jobs or for themselves.
- The jobs recovery so far is also concentrated in sectors that may struggle to propel jobs growth in the near-future -- construction, health care and professional services.
All that, Mr. Schetagne argues, is still far short of a full and healthy recovery.
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