August 2021 Labour Market Update

The latest Statistics Canada local labour market report customized for the Brantford CMA for last month is now available.

August Unemployment Rate: Brantford 5.7% [-] Ontario 7.6% [-] Canada 7.1% [-]

Be sure to review the participation rate and the employment rate (reported as percentages), as well as the labour force, the employed, and the unemployed values (reported as absolute numbers). These give a better picture of changes in the market.

Labour Market Report

The report includes annual rates for the last 10 years, comparing Brantford to surrounding CMAs as well as the provincial and national levels.

Revisions to Labour Force Survey data

Following each census cycle, Labour Force Survey (LFS) data are revised to ensure alignment with the most recently available population estimates, geographic boundaries, and occupation and industry classifications. This standard revision process—which has little impact on key labour market indicators such as employment and the unemployment rate—ensures that the LFS continues to paint a complete and accurate picture of labour market conditions. Read more on the Statistics Canada website.

Overview from Statistics Canada

• Visit the Statistics Canada page for full information.

August Labour Force Survey (LFS) data reflect labour market conditions during the week of August 15 to 21.

By the August reference week, most jurisdictions in Canada had implemented the final or near-final stages of their public health reopening plans. Indoor locations, such as restaurants, recreation facilities, personal care services, retail stores, and entertainment venues, were generally permitted to be open, with varying degrees of capacity restrictions. In addition, for the first time since March 2020, on August 9 fully vaccinated non-essential travellers from the United States were permitted to enter Canada without quarantine requirements, expanding potential clientele for businesses in tourist areas.

Employment rises for third consecutive month

Employment rose by 90,000 (+0.5%) in August, the third consecutive monthly increase. Employment is within 156,000 (-0.8%) of its February 2020 level, the closest since the onset of the pandemic.

August employment gains were concentrated in full-time work (+69,000; +0.4%).

Increases were mainly in services-producing industries, led by accommodation and food services, and were spread across multiple demographic groups.

Total hours worked were little changed and were 2.6% below their pre-pandemic level.

Most of the employment gains occurred among private sector employees (+77,000; +0.6%).

Self-employment was little changed.

Among workers who worked at least half their usual hours, the proportion working from home fell 1.8 percentage points to 24.0% in August, the lowest share since the onset of the pandemic.

Employment increased in the services-producing sector for the third consecutive month in August (+93,000), led by gains in accommodation and food services (+75,000), and information, culture and recreation (+24,000).

The number of people working in construction increased (+20,000; +1.4%) for the first time since March 2021.

Employment increased in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. All other provinces recorded little or no change.

Unemployment rate at lowest level since February 2020

The unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage points to 7.1% in August, the lowest rate since the onset of the pandemic.

The unemployment rate among 15-to-69-year-olds who belong to population groups designated as visible minorities was 9.8% in August, little changed for a second consecutive month.

Long-term unemployment dropped 29,000 (-6.7%) to 394,000 in August, but remained 215,000 (+120.0%) higher than in February 2020.

Local Top Line

• August Unemployment Rate: Brantford 5.7% [-] Ontario 7.6% [-] Canada 7.1% [-]
• The local unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 month over month.
• The local labour force contracted by 100 month over month.
• The number of employed increased by 100 month over month.
• The number of unemployed decreased by 300 month over month.
• When compared to the surrounding CMAs of Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo, Guelph, and London, Brantford’s unemployment rate is lowest.

Note: Brantford's unemployment reflects a 3 month moving average, whereas Ontario and Canada are monthly figures. The sample CMA breakdown for Brantford area is detailed in text at the Stats Canada website: http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3VD.pl?Function=getVD&TVD=117159&CVD=117161&CPV=543&CST=01012011&CLV=2&MLV=3