Maple News reports that Canada’s labour market added 84,000 jobs in October 2020, signaling a continued—albeit slower—recovery as the country grapples with resurgent COVID-19 cases and reintroduced restrictions.
The October gains were considerably lower than the 378,200 jobs added in September, reflecting the direct impact of new public health measures imposed across various provinces. While the job growth decelerated, Statistics Canada’s latest Labour Force Survey revealed that the national unemployment rate saw only a slight improvement, dropping from 9.0% in September to 8.9% in October.
One notable positive development was a rebound in self-employment for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, with 33,000 self-employed individuals re-entering the workforce. Additionally, the number of Canadians working remotely continued to grow, with 150,000 more people working primarily from home compared to the month prior.
In terms of demographics, women aged 25 to 54 experienced the most employment gains, marking a step forward in closing gender gaps exacerbated by the pandemic. However, youth employment remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels, pointing to lingering challenges for younger workers.
Provincial employment trends varied sharply. British Columbia led with a gain of 34,000 jobs, most of them full-time. Other provinces registering job growth included Ontario, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. In contrast, other provinces saw minimal or no shifts in employment levels, reflecting a patchy recovery across regions.
Despite a slower pace of growth, October’s data reflects resilience in Canada’s labour market, supported in part by the adaptability of the workforce and ongoing government policies. Analysts suggest that continued developments in remote work and self-employment could redefine workforce dynamics into 2021.
As Canada aims to stabilize and further grow its job market, immigration and skilled worker policies will likely play a vital role in supporting post-pandemic economic recovery.