Maple News reports that Canada’s job market continued to recover in November, but at a slower pace than in previous months. According to the latest Labour Force Survey released by Statistics Canada, employment increased by 0.3% during the week of November 8–14, compared to a 0.5% rise in October.
The modest employment gain in November was dampened by declines in sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, such as information, culture and recreation, and hospitality services. In contrast, employment in the public sector saw a boost, particularly in hospitals and educational institutions.
Unemployment fell to 8.5% in November, down from 8.9% in October and significantly lower than the 13.7% peak in May. In total, 372,000 Canadians gained jobs during the month, outpacing the 317,000 who moved from employment to unemployment — a promising indicator of continued labour market resilience.
Interestingly, immigrants are showing strong signs of recovery. Individuals who immigrated more than five years ago had an employment rate of 58.1%, narrowing the gap to their pre-pandemic levels. In comparison, Canadian-born workers had an employment rate of 59.7%, still 1.7 percentage points below February levels. Recent immigrants (those arriving within the past five years) maintained a robust employment rate of 65.6%, largely unchanged from February despite a decrease in new arrivals due to travel restrictions.
Provincially, job growth was seen in Ontario, British Columbia, and across Atlantic Canada. Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick returned to their pre-COVID employment levels, while Prince Edward Island added approximately 1,000 jobs. British Columbia nearly closed the gap with February’s employment level, now just 1.5% below that benchmark.
In contrast, Manitoba experienced its first employment decline since April, shedding 18,000 part-time jobs amid renewed public health restrictions. Elsewhere, employment remained relatively stable in Quebec, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, although Alberta continues to lag furthest behind 2019 levels, with employment still down 4.9%.
Quebec’s unemployment rate dropped by 0.5 percentage points to 7.2%, reflecting a reduction in temporary layoffs. Overall, while Canada’s labour market remains on a recovery path, the pace has clearly moderated, signaling a new phase in the country’s economic rebound.