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Jobboom Index for September

Employment in Ontario still “favourable”

In August, 9,300 new jobs were created in Ontario, adding to the 17,100 positions created during the two previous months, as reported by Statistics Canada. Considering the province’s usual August job creation rate (measured over the past 10 years), these gains are weaker than expected. Thus, this month’s index drops 1.8 points to 83 % ─ a level still considered “favourable”. During the first three months of the year, Ontario added 25,900 new jobs to its economy, followed by 16,800 layoffs in April. Overall, employment in Ontario has grown by 1.5 % over the past 12 months.

   SEPTEMBER 2007
   FORECAST
83.0%

FAVOURABLE

Ontario’s services sector managed to offset July’s losses (-21,000) with the creation of 29,100 jobs in August, mostly in educational services (+ 24,600), business, building and other support services (+ 15,800), health care and social assistance (+ 11,700), as well as in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (+ 10,000). Losses, however, were reported in transportation and warehousing (-19,700), other services (-8,000), and in professional, scientific and technical services (-7,600).

Meanwhile, after adding 32,500 positions in July, the province’s goods-producing sector reported 19,800 layoffs in August, mostly in manufacturing (-10,100), construction (-6,200), agriculture (-2,800), and in natural resources (-2,200).

This month’s index ranks 41st out of 120, meaning there were 79 months with lower indices over the past 120 months. Over this same 10-year period, employment in Ontario has grown by 24 %.

Ottawa-Gatineau region: 92.3 % — Excellent
Employment growth continues in the Ottawa-Gatineau Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) with the creation of 4,300 jobs in August, adding to the 21,800 positions created over the previous 6 months. These new jobs have allowed the region to offset the 24,100 positions lost between September 2006 and January 2007. This month’s Index is up 4.2 points to 92.3 % and is now at the “excellent” level.

Over the past 12 months, employment in this CMA has grown by 0.7 %. Meanwhile, this month’s Index ranks 9th out of 120, meaning there were 111 months with lower indices over the last 120 months. Over this same 10-year period, employment in the Ottawa-Gatineau region has increased by 29 %.

Toronto region: 46.2 % — Unfavourable
After losing 3,200 positions in July, the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) managed to create 6,300 new jobs in August. Given this region’s strong job creation record for the month of August over the past 10 years, this month’s weaker-than-expected gains were unable to prevent an index setback. Thus, the Toronto index drops 0.2 points to the “unfavourable” level of 46.2 %.

Over the past 12 months, employment in the Toronto CMA has grown by 1.9 %. This month’s index ranks 72nd out of 120, meaning there were 48 months with lower indices over the past 120 months. From 1997 to 2007, employment in this region has grown by 27 %.

  INDEX
(percent)		 EMPLOYMENT SITUATION COMPARED TO AUGUST
ONTARIO 83.0 FAVOURABLE -1.8
Ottawa-Gatineau Region 92.3 Excellent +4.2
Toronto Region 46.2 Unfavourable -0.2