City jobless rate better than national average
Published Saturday November 7th, 2009
The unemployment rate in Fredericton fell to 4.1 per cent in October, down from 4.6 per cent in September, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.
The capital's unemployment rate is also well below the provincial unemployment rate of 8.5 per cent for October.
"I am very pleased that the numbers are reflecting what the economy is saying right now in Fredericton," said Mayor Brad Woodside Friday. "It has been robust.
"We held our head above the water in this recessionary period."
According to the figures released Friday, Fredericton's unemployment rate last month is also 0.5 percentage points below the same month last year.
Fredericton also had the lowest unemployment rate of New Brunswick's three big cities. Moncton's unemployment rate for October was 6.7 per cent, and Saint John's unemployment rate was 5.2 per cent.
"People have a lot of confidence in the future of this community," said Woodside.
In New Brunswick, the unemployment rate rose slightly to 8.5 per cent in October, compared to 8.1 per cent in September.
But 1,600 more New Brunswickers were working in October than in September and New Brunswick remains below the national average in unemployment for the second month in a row.
The national unemployment rate in October was 8.6 per cent, up 0.2 percentage points from September.
Employment in Canada fell by 43,000 in October.
New Brunswick's October unemployment rate is also 0.4 percentage points lower than the same month last year.
Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault said he was encouraged by the latest statistics.
"These data show that our government's plan for a stronger economy is helping our province to overcome the effects of the global economic downturn that began late last year," he said in a news release.
"Jobs are being created and maintained for New Brunswickers by businesses that are benefiting from our plan for lower taxes in New Brunswick and by our $1.2-billion infrastructure initiative."
Arseneault said the Statistics Canada report shows that New Brunswick is the only province whose unemployment rate has decreased since the recession began in October 2008.
Over the same period, the national rate increased by 2.3 percentage points.
Alberta's unemployment rose by 3.8 percentage points, British Columbia's by 3.1 percentage points and Ontario's by 2.6 percentage points, according to Statistics Canada.
Arseneault said employment in New Brunswick was 369,400, which is a record high. That is up 1,600 compared to September and up 200 compared to September last year.
New Brunswick's employment growth was second only to Prince Edward Island.
The Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour said employment growth in October was strongest in accommodation and food services, construction, finance, insurance, real estate and leasing.
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