Unemployment rises to 7.5 per cent in December

In the first important economic indicator of the year, unemployment rates increased to 7.5 per cent - the third month in a row it's gone up. CTV's Richard Madan has the reality behind the rate.

CTV Toronto: Ont. unemployment rate falls amid national increase

Ontario's unemployment rate made a slight dip last month, but Canada's rate rose to 7.7 per cent. Austin Delaney reports

CTV Ottawa: What do the numbers mean?

Dan Kelly of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the numbers paint a mixed picture, as there are more people back to work, but a higher unemployment rate.

CTV News Channel: Mixed employment picture

Derek Burleton, deputy chief economist for TD Bank, says the employment market is stagnant, and explains while it doesn't suggest there is a recession, it also doesn't show Canada is making any headway.

CTV News Channel: Near recession for Canada?

Eric Lascelles of RBC Global Asset Management says the job market is not giving Canadians a sense of optimism for the overall economy, and explains whether or not it is likely Canada will fall into a recession.

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This is what I call really really bad news for 2012 -- more losses in the full time sector which is absolutely the key to recovery.

KJ in Kingston Ontario

Unemployment rises to 7.5 per cent in December

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Unemployment rises to 7.5 per cent in December

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CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Fri. Jan. 6 2012 9:02 PM ET

The economy created 17,500 new jobs in December – a big improvement over November, when the economy lost 18,600 jobs. But the jobless rate still managed to creep up to 7.5 per cent, because more Canadians entered the labour force looking for work.

As many economists expected, the overall picture from Statistics Canada's latest jobs report is not a rosy one.

The unemployment rate rose for the third month in a row -- the longest advance in two years. And most of the new jobs that were created were in the weaker categories of part-time and self-employment. Among the full-time work sector, jobs fell by 25,500.

"The requirements now -- people want you to have so many more skills, for often less pay," said Adam Richardson who, after being on a job hunt for two years, and landed a full-time job last month at a Halifax-area arts school.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was "very happy' that there was some job growth in December in Canada as well as even better job growth in the United States, but the economy isn't in the clear.

"This has been one of the things that's been lacking over the past couple of years. We've seen some 600,000 net new jobs created in Canada but we haven't been seeing the kind of job growth we need in the United States to help with our trade," Harper told reporters in Edmonton Friday.

"Obviously the news is not all good in the jobs report," Harper also said, adding that the economic recovery is still "fragile."

Manufacturing accounted for the majority of the jobs increase in December, adding 30,400 workers. But construction saw a drop of 12,000.

"All other industries showed little employment change," Statistics Canada said.

Derek Burleton, deputy chief economist at TD Bank, notes there's been lots of back and forth with the country's job picture in recent months, but little advancement.

"I think overall, when I take a step back, we're looking at an employment market that's pretty stagnant. It doesn't suggest we're in recession, as many Canadians believe, but we're certainly not making a lot of headway," he told CTV News Channel Friday morning.

Employment increased by 3.4 per cent in December among people aged 55 and over, but most of this was due to the aging of the population, since the number of people in this age group grew by 3.2 per cent over the last year.

There was little change in employment for people aged 25 to 54, and a decline in employment among youths aged 15 to 24.

Every province saw an increase in employment except Quebec, which lost 25,700 jobs, mostly in the construction, health care and social assistance sectors.

After a strong start early in 2011, Statistics Canada says Canada has now gone six months without any significant job gains. Of the 199,000 jobs that were created in 2011, almost all came in the first six months.

The uncertainty in the global economy, particularly the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, is keeping employers here in Canada from investing in new jobs, many economists believe. Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney has said that weak growth abroad is now the main risk to Canada's economy.

Looking back at 2011 as a whole, the services sector was responsible for almost all the year's job gains, as employment rose significantly in the accommodation and food services industries, as well as in the professional, scientific and technical services.

Meanwhile, employment in the goods producing sector was flat. There were gains in natural resources and construction, but they were cancelled out by declines in utilities and manufacturing.

Looking forward, TD Bank's Burleton says he expects the Canadian economy will push its way through the global uncertainty, with slow growth in 2012.

"I'm comfortable with my view that we're going to eke out pretty slow growth, but it's not going to feel great because of the employment market; I don't see much growth at all in employment in the coming months," he said.

"I think the second half of the year will be better. So we're expecting job gains overall of 10,000 a month over the year as a whole, but it's going to be back-end loaded, I think, in the second half of this year."

Here are the provincial unemployment rates in December (previous month in brackets):

Newfoundland 12.8 (13.2)
Prince Edward Island 11.4 (11.1)
Nova Scotia 7.8 (8.6)
New Brunswick 9.4 (9.8)
Quebec 8.7 (8.0)
Ontario 7.7 (7.9)
Manitoba 5.4 (5.5)
Saskatchewan 5.2 (5.1)
Alberta 4.9 (5.0)
British Columbia 7.0 (7.0)

Comments are now closed for this story

Parker Brown
said

Government programs that encourage corporate liquidity, assuming corporations will invest an create jobs, are ineffective. Tax breaks for corporations only create a liquidity trap. At present Canadian corporations have almost 0.5 Trillion in cash deposits, which they will not invest unless consumer spending increases. Tax breaks for lower income earners and people with families, and higher wages, will increase consumer spending and economic growth. Our government cannot continue to blame the economic circumstances of other nations while its policies increase corporate liquidity but do nothing to increase consumer spending.

Andrew in Dundas
said

Dear Hate being Canadian,Please leave then. I dare you. There is something about you that is previnting you from finding meaningful employment. Find out what it is and fix it. All the best to you.

Dave
said

I find it hilarious the school boys on here that still have a crush on Harper even though he's proven his incompetence over & over again. Harper had been riding the coat tails of good liberal

BlueNoser NS
said

Tory times are hard times, 7 times out of 10. Canada doesn't stop East of Ottawa.

PBW
said

To those complaining about the reduction in corporate tax rates: don't forget that most corporations these days are small businesses, including family farms. Check the stats: most people work for a small business as opposed to multi-nationals.

Trevor H.
said

I don't think 2012 is going to be a good year for jobs. We need jobs. without them everyone hurts. wake up government! make us some jobs.

Let's be Clear
said

@Pye Chartt

Do you ever get sick of drinking the cool-aid? Seriously man, nobody is more hyper-partisan than you. What are you so scared of?

For the rest of us: write to Tony Gazebo. Maybe land a maintenance contract up in Huntsville.

For everyone: this useless East-West name calling and hatred does no good for anyone. Alberta is great, Ontario is great, BC is great, Quebec is great, and so on. One big awesome country.

We'll pull through together, bless my bleeding heart.

reidjr
said

Duke
Liberal supporters are great they claim Harper is showing incompetence yet those in ontario don't hold there own liberal party to that same standard its a real nice double standard they have.

Joan in Real World
said

Those who still can't see the link between right-wing governments and the destruction of the middle-class, high unemployment and the concentration of the wealth in the hands of the very few should look South at what is happening in the United States.Are we really simple enough to think that electing a Reform government intent on adopting the same kind of policies that the Americans have is somehow not going to lead us down the same path?This type of outcome is to be expected.

Shar
said

Hate Being Canadian: If you haven't thought about emigrating, you should. I 'm sure the grass will be greener somewhere else.

Bugzy
said

When a person has to take 3 or 4 jobs working24 hours at minimum wages which is all there is in most provinces Alberta as well unless you happen to work at Ft Mac with no affordable housing to move your families there. Time to cut all that BS trolls.

JD
said

Bill Moyer said "Given that around 5% of the population would never work I conclude that very few Canadians are truly out of work - perhaps just 2%." That would seem to highlight how broken our system is that - it only takes 2% of people being out of work to send us into economic chaos

Just Wondering - Ottawa
said

You know Larry .. the Ontario Liberals also said that they have created over 50,000 jobs with the Environment...in today's paper this was proven wrong that they are not anywhere near this number...the fault doesn't always lie with the Federals...you are an Ontario Resident...if anyone is looking for work here there are jobs..but there are jobs that born Canadians will not work at and that's the problem...

Be your own boss
said

To the ladies out there. My wife is a hair colourist and works from home. She handles on average 3 clients per day charging about $100 each session. It is easy money and above all she does not declare her income. The key to making through this economic disaster is to cut your own breaks. Do not let anyone convince you that you are being dishonest. The entire system is corrupt with corporations being subsidized by YOU anyway. Since they wont give you a break, you give yourself one. You only live once and dont become this old frail lady who is impoverished. Do something about it today.

Craig from NS
said

I have noticed a lot of job postings in my industry, not only out west, but here in Atlantic Canada. Unfortunately, there are no qualified candidates to fill these jobs. Most are students fresh out of school with no experience or the job description / qualifications are so specific that it is like winning the lottery when you find the perfect candidate. Our company / department had recently hired someone who worked in our industry but no experience for the actual position. We have to put them through a six month training program just to get them up to speed. There was no one out there who came close to what we wanted.

Alexis in Victoria
said

During the 2 months of the Occupy movement, these people weren't worried about going to work and now that that's been shut down, they're suddenly looking for jobs?

RobinF
said

This is to Anne tour right about being over qualified I'll be 55 this month everywhere I go they just say no thanks as to Higgy there if Quebec was to separate your taxes outside of Quebec will sky rocket to make up for the money that is not coming in.

David-YYC
said

Lorne-MTL,
you state that Quebecers "care too much for justice and democracy", and I was wondering if you could explain that in regards to Bill 101? You also stated you wouldn't vote REFORM which I think is apparent to all Canadians. Reform was about a grass-roots movement, by individuals stepping up, so to speak. That would require you folks to actually do something for yourselves instead of relying on a Nanny State, and we all know that isn't happening anytime soon. One question, how does a province blessed with so many resources, situated above the largest economy in the world and having so much (almost free) renewable electric power, end up such a financial basket case, begging money from Ontario and Alberta for decades?

Samantha
said

@mother of 3 - Good luck! keep your chin up, I know it will happen eventually. I was unemployed 2 years ago so I know what youre going through! You arent alone.

Johnny Kakanaskis
said

Yan in Quebec,
So the vast gold,silver,copper,zinc and asbestos mines in the north are the poster children for environmental stewardship?

devils advocate
said

And yet our illustrious "leaders" saw fit to again decrease taxeson profitable corporations that have utterly failed to "stimulate the economy by creating jobs" while at the same time increasing the payroll tax burden on the struggling employed with a huge rise in EI and CPP premiums. How do ya like your majority conservative government now? Haven't their economic policies been just peachy-keen-great-wowsy-doodle for us middle class wage slaves? They lowered taxes... oh wait no that was only for corporations. Hasn't our economy improved!...oh wait no several quarters of poor growth or contraction. HMMM well unemployment is down!! jobs have been created due to corporate tax cuts .... no wait...the number of unemployed is up... Well at least there's No more stealing and wasteful spending of scarce taxpayer dollars then!!...no wait Clement did a pretty fair imitation of squandering 50 million with his g20 misapporpriations...damn where is that silver lining in this thick,dark cloud?

mother of 3
said

I need a job! Been trying hard for 2 months :(

higgy
said

Another reason we should of let Quebec separate a long time ago. Come out West were the work is

Larry I ontario
said

Well what will those conservatives do now that they can't keep saying we created 650000 jobs? Time to get a finance misnister that tells the truth istead of the one we have now that one day says things are great and the next day says its not so great.

Hate being Canadian
said

Canada added 20,000 jobs. Ok. Wait for it. Those jobs are PART TIME! How the hell do you pay your mortgage or raise a friggin family with a part time job at McDonalds? Does the government really believe we are stupid to accept the figures they shovel at us carte blanche? Take the part time stats and shove them up your butt and now lets focus soley on the full time work available to Canadians. Lets not even consider mimimum wage jobs because honestly $7.50 per hour doesnt even pay the rent. $7.50 per hour...from Surrey to Vancouver by bus costs you about that EACH DAY so your first hour every day of the week goes towards the cost of your commute. Then after you pay your rent, electric and food you are left with NOTHING. You live day to day hand to mouth and then they wave these ridiculous statistics in your face about how Canadians dont seem to want to have children, not buying RRSPs, or have CONFIDENCE in the economy. I have no confidence in the government and soon they will send pink slips to tens of thousands of government workers who lost the ability to pay their mortgages or feed their children. What a lame country we live in. I hate what its become and am ashamed of being a Canadian.

EU Crash Waits till Vacation is Done!
said

Notice how before Christmas that the European Union was in doomday..but "now" that all these fat cat elites are on vacation in the sunny tropics...things don't seem to be in a panic??? It's like the Titanic sinking but then decides it wants to take a month holiday to the French Riviera and decides that it will take a sabatical from sinking for a month so it can cruise around Monaco and then continue sinking after the vacation is over. This reeks totally of self-serving drama at their own convenience and agenda. What is up with that? Are we the taxpaying public being played by them as fools? I bet the next time we see Angela Merkel she'll have a sun-kissed tan that Snooki from Jersey Shore will envy but then she'll make that deadly serious crisis face again so we don't question her math.

Bill Moyer
said

What I get from these figures is that 92.5% of Canadians go to work everyday and earn an honest living. Given that around 5% of the population would never work - no matter how good the economy was - I conclude that very few Canadians are truly out of work - perhaps just 2%. Seems like Canada is doing very well.

POLITICIANS UNDER THE PALM SUNNY BEACH
said

Seems quiet on the political front in Canada now because they're all on vacation in the sunny tropics and you're paying for them to parade around a palm lined beach. How does that make you feel while you struggle to pay the grocery bill?

Lorne-MTL
said

To Chris in Edmonton.Thanks for "educating me" on what I'll find, but since I was born, raised in Quebec, and still live it, my guess is that I have a slightly better idea about the province and its situation.I am curious however to know how you propose to explain your assertion that the Bloc, a Federal opposition party, has left the province in a shamble? One last thing...Read my post correctly. I din't say your voting was laughable, just your idea that the fact that we voted NDP at the last election has somehow something to do with the jobless situation in Quebec.

Florence
said

Employment that was created is temporary jobs! Unlike Harpers which is full time and will pay him long after he no longer holds office. Get rid of the $300,000.00 entitlement known as the senate too. Fat cats like Pamela Wallen sucking taxpayers dry so she can hob-knob limousine ride around with 2nd rate Royalty and C list Hollywood has-been actors paying the tab with Canadian taxpayer's money. This is nothing more than a feudal country with average Canadians paying to keep a guilded 25% government employees, politicians , senators, civil servants living the high life from cradle to grave while most of us toil under the guise of a representative democracy!

GLOBALIZATION CODE 4 SCREW U!
said

Globalization/Emerging Markets = Code for "Peanut Wage Slave Labor Exploitation" which = FAT CEO SALARIES.

KC BC
said

Whoa! The Georges below must have cloned themselves. We have seen many of you at some very nice Mexican resorts...lots of long noses which look down on others. It seems that your clones exhibit the most: boorish, condescending, and arrogant behavior possible. Is this why so many other tourists (and resort workers) avoid you at any cost? At any rate I disagree with one observer below who invites you to come west to get work. Please don't ! In general , Westerners like people who have a work ethic and are happy with their lot. Bring on the qualified immigrants from South Asia, Greece, and Bulgaria! Yes, they will work and contribute. A big improvement over many Easterners. This last statement does not apply to Maritimers or those from Newfoundland and Labrador...wonderful people!

Rob
said

I found wide spread cases of many big, technologies based companies with global presentence have been taken advantage of jobless in Ottawa, ON. They offer NO PAID internship with requirement for over 5 years experience of technical skills and required Ph.D. education background to work as FREE labor for NOTHING. Realized this facts, the politician is doing something terribly wrong in bring Canada on track of toward poor, worse than jobless situation. An enslaved society!Job seekers consider working for free in a hope to get hired later and be paid well later! But,employers are now playing game of using people for free, and paid them nothing or near to nothing, using up that person's subsidy, then dump them a few months later. Then looking for the next free labor on the waiting rolls from employment centers . Government considers the workers who working for worse then minimum wage under internship or free labor as "have back to work force" and erase them from the jobless rate. That is how the real unemployed rate hidden. Wake up! Canada has wide open immigration door to effectively recruit free labors for big corp. The result enable employers only willing to pay as less as they can to take advantage of huge new immigrants who willing to work for free initially with hope to be employed. That is why so many very skillful people cannot find a job simply because the government is playing a subsidy game to allow companies to use the vast "free labor".No one can compete with free and volunteer labor in the job market! The price? Long term jobless in Canada Canada trends toward the job seeker earn as little as poor third world countries The spending will trending spend lessOverall economy hurt in the long run.

DG
said

@G ... here here, someone had to set the record straight for the central elite. @George ... two degrees hang from my gun rack - thanks for your unsophisticated point of view.

Attention CEOs
said

Attention CEOs: Its your responsiblity to reduce unemployment, not by any government. Rather than taking more money than ever before for yourselves and giving it away free to your loved ones and friends. Why not do massive hirings for more clerical staff at retail stores? I`m fed up of frequent inadequate service at practically every retail store today. Where is the service? And stop grabbing more cash for your benefit. Use those profits for satisfied service help to customers instead.

Duke
said

As usual, the Harper followers are whining because people criticize doofus Harper for his incompetence.

Chris in Edmonton
said

To Lorne in MTL. I think that you will find the root of a lot of problems lies in the fact that there was a separatist party in power for so long and they accomplished absolutley nothing. To say my voting ideas are laughable is laughable in itself when you look at Quebecs track record. The Bloc left the province in shambles. And before you accuse me of knowing nothing about the place, I am half french with family all over Quebec. I am just a realist.

rick in ab
said

Free trade, means putting people out of work.

G
said

@ George Are you really calling the prairie provinces uncivilized? Really??? FYI, we're hiring for both full and part time and can't seem to find any qualified people. Not enough jobs where you are? Come to the prairies where health care was created and women's rights (right to vote) were grass roots movements. 1st open heart surgery was performed. 1st telecommunications satellite. Come to the prairies where Canadian innovation and civilization thrives!!! Really George, I can't believe your name begins with G!

Anne
said

The reason why people are having a hard time finding a job,let alone getting a job is this...You are either the wrong age,wrong nationality or over qualified!That is my opinion and yet,it's the truth!So much discrimination out there!

George of the Jungle
said

Rather than pay to move to the prairies and make $200 per hour, I would rather live in a civilized white neck province and work two $10 per hour jobs instead, which works out to same amount a hour. Because in the prairies, red neck immigrants are coming in to work those jobs, and who wants to work beside those kinds of people? Nobody in the civilized part of Canada does

Action Plan II
said

What is Harper's second action plan? Is he planing some more wars in the oil rich countries? All unemployed could get a job in the military, war support, Oil inustries and private security forces such as Garda. Who cares if that would mean killing of innocents, destroying other countries and their illegal occupation. With this nasty plan our economy will boom or better say will bomb. The Charlottetown is departing for the middle east.. When is the next schedulled departure. I want to apply. FYI Garda is the same company that ensure airport security in Toronto airport. Their employees have been arrested in afghanistan for illegal weapon deals.

Jeremy
said

I can tell you wholeheartedly that we never really came out of the recession from 2008. We were very close to sliding into another great depression when the housing sector collapsed in the U.S. I am tired. I am so tired of working my ass off just to tread water, and not seem to make any ground the last few years. It really is true that if you are not moving ahead, then your just backing up, because my pay is the same, but inflation is killing me. Gas alone is ridiculous.

Mark - Calgary
said

Yan [the one who held a British passport] said "Yes, Quebec has high unemployment rate. That is because we don't pollute our environment like some oil money hungered western Canadians do."But you Quebecers sure love taking billions of equalization money each and every year which mostly come from us big bad ol' polluting westerners. I love how Alberta is seen as the bogeyman by Quebecers while we Albertans bankroll Quebec's social programs. Without equalization payments from Alberta, Quebec would completely fall apart with its banana republic debt.

Zellers?
said

I am not sure why some feel that the closure of some of the Zellers stores will increase Canada's unemployment rates? Most of these stores are being converted to Target stores and/or Fields. As well, Zellers became less competitive when additional Wal-Mart locations opened up around Canada. They may not be a Canadian company, but they are known for having a higher number of employees in each store (including greeters). Sad for some to see another Canadian company close it's doors, but it sounds like it's for the best when it comes to higher employment figures, which is what is relevant to this particular story.

cyberclark
said

% numbers are all skewed! The Canadian Conservatives are spinning the "golden streets" scenario coupled with all is great under a Conservative Government; aren't we all lucky! The truth however is quite different. The Alberta Conservatives have put in a make work program for the oil companies. This plan is costing the Alberta taxpayer 8 billion dollars a year. Drilling companies under this plan have reported taking home a million dollars for drilling a dry hole. The workers however are reporting 1 week in 3 which gives them marginally better money than EI but more important; it keeps them off the unemployment roles!Along with this, Alberta Conservatives have been busted for stealing pension funds in their trust. See albertathedetails.blogspot.com/2011/12/alberta-pensions-at-risk.htmlThe economies are the pits and I don't fault any one for trying to put a positive spin on it but, not in the extremes as Canada is doing.

George
said

@ Redneck Albertan, Your handle explains why there is lower unemployment in the prairie provinces. Educated hard working Canadians would rather eat hay than live next to a bunch of knuckle dragging rednecks. I personally would move to the prairies for 200 per hour, I'd rather struggle with two 10 dollar per hour jobs in a civilized province. I guess there just isn't enough rednecks in Canada to take the available jobs in the prairies. But don't worry our current federal government has our immigration doors wide open, I'm sure there are a few redneck immigrants that will fill the positions. The only problem there is rednecks don't like people from other countries.

Yan [the one who held a British passport]
said

Yes, Quebec has high unemployment rate. That is because we don't pollute our environment like some oil money hungered western Canadians do.

Bumcrack USA
said

Ahhhh, Jobless rate going up slowly but surely. Replacing full-time jobs with part-time and self-employment jobs. Thank God for those tax cuts to big corporations, hey? They're really working out.Quick people, better join that 1% fast before its too late. I hear from some Conservative posters that it is just a matter of working hard.

Don
said

Once again your stats are all smoke and mirror. Your quick to pinpoint that the econmy is hiring, but where does it say that major corporations that do layoffs and then re-hire people and pay them less money to do these same jobs??? Nothing is being generated to give people a chance to get into the work force and a descent pay.....

Lorne -MTL
said

To Chris in Edmonton... To equate the job situation in Quebec in any way to the fact that we voted NDP is laughable.Voting REFORM is something we would never have done here in Quebec. We follow politics too much, and care too much about justice and democracy, to help elect such a right-wing ideological party of zealots. Non merci! And voting Harper would not have made a difference, The only Quebec industry he cares about right now is the Asbestos industry....figthing desperately to promote the export of a substance that is banned in Canada and, according to all experts, cannot be handled and used without great impact on human health.

Cynical
said

While the article states "The uncertainty in the global economy, particularly the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, is keeping employers here in Canada from investing in new jobs . . ." there are still those who blame Harper and company. Really, the teaching of reading should be improved to the point where even Liberals can understand words of one syllable.

Living In Calgary
said

@ Chris in Edmonton, I guess the NDP in Quebec are doing about the same as the conservatives everywhere else then, as the food service provider I worked for has let hundreds go across Canada, and shipped those jobs down to the US, thank God the Harper governement cut taxes to bussiness so they can save tax dollars as they lay people off.

Stewie
said

You have to give credit where due, if Harper had not increased the size of government by 12% the unemployment rate would be a lot higher & those are good paying government jobs. I guess that's why our national debt clock shows Canada going into debt at a rate of about 130 million per day. Looks the Harper has the whole country running backwards. Unemployment on the rise & national debt skyrocketing. The liberals on the other hand had consecutive surpluses. It looks like steady hand Steve is going to put us all out of work & bankrupt the country. Just wait till his dumb on crime bills kick in & we start paying for war planes we don't need & prisons we don't need. Why to go Steve it didn't take you long to destroy our economy. We now have the biggest government in Canadian history and I thought conservatives talk about small government. I still see those action plan signs littering our highway's Steve gave an American company 140 million for these useless signs. That money could have employed a few Canadians but Steve had to give it to his American buddies.

Busy Working at whatever I want
said

B.S. on all the whiners and complainers. There are more job openings in Calgary and Brooks than there are people to fill them. Come West get to work and vote as far right wing as you can and we will all be just fine.

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

Duh. It's called a severe global economic recession, folks. No need for the anti-Conservative dimwits to act like they've cleverly uncovered something sinister to lay at the feet of Harper & Company. Spare us the bogus implicit notion that Canada is worse off than everybody else. Given commercial conditions in the U.S. and Europe, and the historical track record of our national unemployment rate over the past 35 years (which crosses other recessions), the fact remains that we're in pretty good relative shape, all considered. The Great White North isn't an economic island. Spare us the silly partisan "debt" rants (the Liberals and NDP approved all those minority-government budgets, including the federal stimulus measures, that put us in the hole.) Our real estate market has been remarkably strong, didn't bubble and burst as foolishly predicted 20 months ago, and is now leveling as it should. Get hip to the fact that the production of goods in China and elsewhere enables countless Canadian companies to be viable, thrive, and employ. Grasp that higher taxes (corporate or personal) certainly won't "encourage" job growth. Spit out the leftist mental chewing gum that has you goofily believing that the salary of a CEO is stolen from your pocket. Only the bitterly defeated endeavor to convince us that, magically, we'd be doing better, economically, with Michael Ignatieff at the helm. (Americans have experienced President Obama's hope-and-change impotence.) Cheer up, little buckaroos. Your incessant whining is just depressing you, needlessly.

Sr. taxpayer
said

Harper will soon be appointing 7 new $140,000 senate positions so that will reduce the unemployment rate....and there will be 30 new MP's in 4 years... keep up the good work conservatives....

James, Onatario
said

It looks like the only one that has significantly increased is Quebec. The mob industry must be slowing down.

Samantha
said

Part time "should be good enough"? No, part time is NOT "good enough". When you are forced to juggle multiple jobs and barely make a living because of the low pay with no benefits, it is not "good enough". I think its really sad that some people think people should just settle for the worst available option rather than think our country could be doing a better job to ensure good full time jobs are being created for our citizens. NO I dont work part time, but I have compassion for the people who are struggling to get by when that is all there is. I think its a shame.

Red X
said

Dear Conservatives; the rate is rising in the trend while Full Time jobs are being lost! Flaherty & Harper are the worst stewards; say they are focusing on the Economy while legislating the end to the long gun registry OR working on crime bills that will keep young people in jail longer for minor offences...when the young could be rehabilitated and a productive worker!

Len
said

Like a previous poster said, some jobs are seasonal, or more seasonal, than others and therefore add to the jobless lists. Any of the jobs added were also seasonal due to the holiday season and most of these temp jobs were minimum wage and/or part time. The better paying jobs continue to be shipped out of the country and corporations are not adding jobs but hording their profits for the share holders. Wish they would follow a more just sense of justice and compassion.

Chris in Edmonton
said

If you look at the list above, the only province that experienced a major spike was Quebec. Hows the NDP working out for you?

Just Saying - Ottawa
said

There are many help wanted signs in store windows in the East End...guess even working part time hours should be good for some..but guess it isn't for others. There are plenty of jobs out there though may have minimum wage but if one wants to work and feel like contributing to society then they will do these jobs even if it isn't anything they are trained in. Some will take whatever comes along until they find what is suited for them. Then there are those who prefer to draw pogie...

Mq
said

Every year for the last 10 years I go out in December looking for some extra work, even part time. Just some extra cash. I did not get a single call back this year from any major brand corporation for temporary seasonal work. Not a single call. Every year prior, I had some sort of temp job within a week. My daughter works for Canadian Tire, part time as a high school student. Usually she's working for all 3 of her weeks off over christmas, 60 Hours. This year? 16 hour in 3 weeks. Proof is in the pudding folks.

Ross
said

Sure the jobless rate is high but that only shows those who are collecting there U.I benefits what about the ones who have run out of U.I. benefits I'am sure it is closer to 12% and there will be more jobless later this year when Zellers close there doors.

money changers
said

Full time jobs down.Part time help was for Xmas season.Not good.The money changers are doing their best to paint the pig.Even the guy who forgave all types of sinners lost his cool with the bankers.Yes the money changers of the day were so infuriating they even drove Jesus to break the furniture.Todays globalist robber barons would surely have any saints blood boiling so us mere mortals can be excused for our anger!

Intelligent Liberal
said

For me these month over month minor fluctuations that Stat Can reports are meaningless. So, the construction industry lost 12,00 jobs in December? Guess what, maybe that's because it's not longer construction season! I agree with Redneck about opportunities out west, but looking at the figures the national average is being dragged down by Quebec. Although other provinces are worse, Quebec's larger population has more of an impact on the total average. Perhaps they should consider language training or something like that to help gain employment opportunities.

Redneck Albertan
said

7.5% unemployment is pretty darn good if you want to compare us to the rest of the world. But if you're one of those who just cannot seem to find something to do, you have some ambition and don't mind getting you hands dirty, it seems Alberta and Saskatchewan are pretty fair destinations. Come on out and take a look. Even the weather has been positive this winter. :)

KJ in Kingston Ontario
said

This is what I call really really bad news for 2012 -- more losses in the full time sector which is absolutely the key to recovery.

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I feel that if certain organs were in demand, less effort would be made to revive people. Am I being silly? Not really. I had a bad experience in hospital when my heart stopped, the doctors tried to revive me and failed. They stopped and said I was gone. I came around on my own when the nurse was giving a final BP reading of 'zero'. I heard her declare me dead! It was all I could do to shake my head but they never caught on til I was able to open my eyes. You should have seen them scramble then! I thought the nurse was going to faint. The thing is, I think we may write people off too soon when there is something of value to be gained from them.

me

Should all Canadians be automatically considered organ donors?

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