The August Labour Force Survey (LFS) results reflect labour market conditions as of the week of August 9 to 15, five months following the onset of the COVID-19 economic shutdown. By mid-August, public health restrictions had substantially eased across the country and more businesses and workplaces had re-opened. This LFS release continues to integrate the international standard concepts such as employment and unemployment with supplementary indicators that help to monitor the labour market as restrictions are lifted and capture the full scope of the impacts of COVID-19. A series of survey enhancements were continued ... (full story)

Net Change in Employment in Canada rose by 245,800, compared to analysts' estimate of 275,000, in August and brought the Unemployment Rate down from 10.2% in August from 10.9% in July, Statistics Canada reported on Friday. Underlying details of the publication revealed that the Participation Rate improved modestly to 64.6% and came in line with analysts' estimate. "The number of Canadians who were employed but worked less than half their usual hours for reasons likely related to COVID-19 fell by 259,000 (-14.6%) in August," Statistics Canada noted in its press release. "Combined with declines in May, June and July, ... (full story)