Ontario leads the way in Canadian employment rates

Employment in Canada increased significantly in August largely as a result of gains in part-time work, Statistics Canada is reporting.

Five Canadian provinces saw employment gains while the rest of the country held steady, according to the StatsCan Labour Force Survey, and three industrial sectors benefitted from significant increases.

Ontario: part-time work in wholesale and retail

Ontario produced the bulk of Canadian job gains last month with an increase of 58,000 net new jobs in August, all in part-time work. Employment in Ontario was up 250,000 compared to August 2018, a year-over-year increase of 3.5 per cent.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) offers a number of immigration options for skilled foreign workers. The OINP has three streams that are linked to the federal Express Entry system and usually do not require a job offer from an Ontario employer in order to be eligible.

Quebec: finance, insurance, real estate, leasing

Quebec's employment rates rose for the second month in a row with an additional 20,000 net new jobs in August, with the majority of those gains occurring in the finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing industries. The unemployment rate of 4.7 per cent was the lowest among Canadian provinces last month. Compared with the same time last year, employment was up by 112,000, or 2.6 per cent.

Foreign workers interested in immigrating to Quebec must first be invited to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). Immigration programs include the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), which is open to those with eligible work or study experience in the province, and the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

Manitoba: professional, scientific, and technical services

The number of people employed in Manitoba grew by 5,200 in August, which Statistics Canada said was the province’s first notable increase of 2019. The province’s professional, scientific, and technical services sector saw the most gains from last month with an increase of 5.5 per cent over July, and up 8.5 per cent compared to August 2018. Unemployment in Manitoba was relatively unchanged at 5.6 per cent.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) provides a number of pathways to the province for eligible immigration candidates. Foreign workers with in-demand work experience and family connections to Manitoba (among other criteria) may be eligible for the MPNP's Skilled Workers Overseas Stream, which has a sub-stream for those with a profile in the federal Express Entry system.

Saskatchewan: various service-producing industries

Saskatchewan saw an increase of 2,800 jobs filled last month, which helped to drive the unemployment rate down to 5.1 per cent. Compared to August 2018, employment in the province grew by 2.2 per cent, or 13,000 jobs, with gains distributed in a number of industries in the service-producing sector.

Foreign workers who are interested in moving to Saskatchewan may be eligible under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). Two SINP streams — International Skilled Worker: Express Entry and International Skilled Worker: In-Demand Occupation — consider candidates with work experience in one of 19 in-demand occupations, among other qualifications.

New Brunswick: information, culture, and recreation

New Brunswick had 2,300 more people working compared to July 2019. The unemployment rate stayed at about 8.6 per cent. The information, culture, and recreation industry grew nine per cent in one month, and 22 per cent over the past 12 months.

There are several ways to immigrate to New Brunswick through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). As of July, those with a profile in the federal Express Entry pool may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination from New Brunswick without having to first express their interest to the NBPNP.

Find out if you are eligible for Express Entry

Industries with most employment gains

In August there were 109,000 net new jobs in the professional, scientific, and technical services industry compared to August 2018, an increase of 7.4 per cent. Statistics Canada said this was the fastest rate of growth among all major industrial sectors.

Employment in the finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing industry grew by 22,000 in August, a year-over-year increase of 46,000, or 3.9 per cent. This industry grew mostly in Ontario and Quebec.

Educational services employment increased by 35,000, or 2.6 per cent, compared to last year, mostly in Quebec.

See the complete Labour Force Survey for August 2019 here.

Learn more about finding work in Canada.