NB 422
April 5, 2007
FREDERICTON (CNB) - The province set another record as 360,000 New Brunswickers were working last month, while the unemployment rate stood at 7.4 per cent, Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Ed Doherty reported today.
"I am always encouraged when more New Brunswickers are finding jobs, and we will continue to explore innovative ways to support our labour force through our plan under the Charter for Change to help even more people be successful in our province," Doherty said. "Making economic development a priority again is starting to show results, but we will not be complacent, as we have to continue to support our businesses and our workers as we move towards self-sufficiency."
A record 360,000 people were working in New Brunswick last month, which was the highest recorded since 1976 under this monthly survey taken by Statistics Canada. It could be a longer period, but the figures released are based on methodology for labour statistics that changed in 1976, so numbers prior to that date are not comparable.
"I was also pleased that the labour force grew by over 2,300 from the previous month, which shows that people have confidence in our economy and are returning to the work force," Doherty said. "I am confident that by continuing to make job creation a priority, more New Brunswickers will find employment in our province. I am confident that our government's strategy to grow a skilled workforce through retaining and providing skills to our current workers, repatriating former New Brunswickers, and renewed efforts through immigration, will produce results in the long term."
Figures released by Statistics Canada show that there were 360,000 New Brunswickers employed in March, up by 1,100 from the same time last year, and up by 200 from last month. The monthly unemployment rate stood at 7.4 per cent in March, which was a decrease of 1.8 percentage points from the same time last year. In addition, the labour force in the province, which measures those working or actively seeking work, stood at 388,800 last month, up from 386,500 from the previous month.
Employment growth in March was strongest in these top three areas on a year-over-year basis: utilities, construction and manufacturing.
07/04/05
MEDIA CONTACT: Shawn Hearn, communications, Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, 506-453-2568.
07/04/05