Prince Edward Island Labour Force Survey 2017 Annual Report Highlights: Employment increased by 3.1 per cent in 2017, averaging 73,700. This was the second highest growth rate among provinces, behind only British Columbia. PEI s unemployment rate averaged 9.8 per cent in 2017, down 0.9 percentage points from 2016. This is the lowest annual rate for PEI since 1978. Total labour force averaged 81,700 persons, an increase of 1.9 per cent from 2016. Total unemployed persons on PEI averaged 8,000 in 2017, a 7.0 per cent decrease. Notable employment gains were seen in Wholesale and Retail Trade (7.8 per cent), Construction (12.8 per cent) and Manufacturing (8.3 per cent). Notable losses occurred in Management, Administrative, and Other Support Services (-17.4 per cent), Accommodation and Food Services (-5.2 per cent), and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (-5.4 per cent). Average weekly wages have increased 35.3 per cent since 2007, compared to the national average of 27.3 per cent. In 2017 national employment increased by 336,500, or 1.9 per cent, over 2016. The national unemployment rate averaged 6.3 per cent. 1
Diagram 1 85 Labour Force Characteristics P.E.I. 2007-2017 12.5 persons, thousands 80 75 70 65 12 11.5 11 10.5 10 9.5 percentage Labour Force Employment Unemployment Rate (%) 60 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 9 Annual Labour Force Survey data released by Statistics Canada on January 5, 2018 showed that among the provinces, British Columbia led employment growth for the second consecutive year, increasing by 3.7 per cent, or 87,300 persons. As can be seen in diagram 2, following British Columbia was Prince Edward Island at 3.1 per cent, or 2,200, and Quebec at 2.2 per cent, or 90,200. Only Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador saw employment declines in 2017. Diagram 2 Percent 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0-1.0-2.0-3.0-4.0-5.0 3.7 EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 2017 CANADA AND PROVINCES 3.1 2.2 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.0 0.6 0.4-0.2 BC PE QC CND ON MB AB NS NB SK NF -3.7 Prince Edward Island employment in 2017 totaled 73,700. The annual unemployment rate for Prince Edward Island decreased by 0.9 percentage points to reach 9.8 per cent in 2017, the lowest annual unemployment rate since 1978. Despite this, PEI s unemployment rate remains the second highest in the country for 2017, behind only Newfoundland and Labrador, which was 14.8 per cent. The total labour force increased by 1,500 people, or 1.9 per cent. The total number of unemployed persons decreased by 600, or 7.0 per cent, to reach 8,000 persons in 2017. The participation rate for PEI 2
stood at 66.0 per cent in 2017, compared to an average of 65.8 in 2016. Annual labour force survey statistics for Prince Edward Island from 2008 to 2017 can be seen in Table 1. Table 1 PEI Annual Labour Force Survey, 2008 to 2017 Population 15 + Labour Force Employment Unemployment Not In Labour Force Unemployment Rate Participation Rate 2008 113.4 77.3 69.0 8.4 36.0 10.9 68.2 2009 114.5 77.3 68.1 9.2 37.2 11.9 67.5 2010 116.5 78.7 69.7 9.0 37.8 11.4 67.6 2011 118.6 80.8 71.9 8.9 37.9 11.0 68.1 2012 119.8 82.2 73.0 9.2 37.6 11.2 68.6 2013 120.2 83.8 74.1 9.7 36.4 11.6 69.7 2014 120.6 82.8 74.0 8.8 37.8 10.6 68.7 2015 120.9 81.7 73.2 8.5 39.2 10.4 67.6 2016 121.8 80.2 71.5 8.6 41.7 10.7 65.8 2017 123.7 81.7 73.7 8.0 42.0 9.8 66.0 Labour Force increasing, more 55 plus, more people not participating As can be seen above in Table 1, PEI s labour force increased in 2017, following three consecutive years of decline. The participation rate also increased slightly in 2017, after falling three consecutive years from a peak of 69.7 per cent in 2013 to 65.8 per cent in 2016. The total population 15 and over increased at a greater rate than the labour force in 2017. As a result, the number of people not participating in the labour force 1 increased to 42,000 in 2017, the highest since comparable data became available in 1976. Since 2013, the number of people not participating in the labour force has increased by 5,600. The majority of this increase, 84.0 per cent, are people aged 55 and over (Diagram 3). This would indicate more people leaving the workforce and entering their retirement years. Diagram 3 31.0 Not In Labour Force By Age PEI, 2008-2017 persons, thousands 26.0 21.0 16.0 11.0 55 and over 15 to 54 6.0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM Table 282-0219 1 A person not in the labour force is not employed and not looking for work 3
From 2008 to 2014, the labour force aged 15 to 54 was relatively unchanged. Over this same time period, the labour force aged 55 and over increased 38.0 per cent, growing from 14,200 in 2008 to 19,600 in 2014. After a slight decline in 2015, this age cohort has continued to increase, growing by 5.3 percent since 2015, while the 15 to 54 cohort has decreased by 1.6 per cent over the same time period. Diagram 4 26% 24% 22% 20% 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% Percentage of Labour Force Aged 55 and Over PEI, 2008-2017 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Employment by Industry As can be seen in Table 2, employment in the goods producing sector increased in 2017 following two consecutive years of decline. Employment in this sector increased by 1,000 in 2017 to total 17,600. This was mostly due to increases in construction and manufacturing. Table 2 2016 2017 Change Goods Producing Sector 16,600 17,600 1,000 Agriculture 3,100 3,100 0 Other Primary Industries 2,400 2,500 100 Utilities 300 200-100 Manufacturing 6,000 6,500 500 Construction 4,700 5,300 600 Services Producing Sector 55,000 56,100 1,100 Trade 10,300 11,100 800 Transportation and Warehousing 2,500 2,800 300 Finance, Insurance and Real Estate 2,700 2,700 0 Professional, Scientific and Technical 3,700 3,500-200 Management, Administrative and Other Support Services 2,300 1,900-400 Educational 5,100 5,300 200 Health Care and Social Assistance 10,100 10,500 400 Public Administration 6,800 6,900 100 Information, Culure and Recreation 2,600 2,700 100 Accommodation and Food Service 5,800 5,500-300 Other Services 3,100 3,300 200 Employment in the service providing sector also increased in 2017, growing by 1,100 to total 56,100. Significant gains were seen in wholesale and retail trade and health care and social assistance. Notable declines occurred in management, administrative and other support services sector and in accommodation and food services. The wholesale and retail trade sector remains the largest employment industry on Prince Edward Island in 2017, employing 11,100 people, followed closely by health care and social assistance, which employs 10,500 people. 4
Diagram 5 Accomodation and Food Service, 5.5 Information, Culure and Recreation, 2.7 Employment By Industry Prince Edward Island, 2017 (persons, thousands) Other Services, 3.3 Agriculture, 3.1 Other Primary Industries, 2.5 Utilities, 0.2 Manufacturing, 6.5 Public Administration, 6.9 Construction, 5.3 Trade, 11.1 Health Care and Social Assistance, 10.5 Transportation and Warehousing, 2.8 Educational, 5.3 Management, Administrative and Other Support, 1.9 Professional, Scientific and Technical, 3.5 Finance, Insurance and Real Estate, 2.7 Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM Table 282-0008 Employment by Occupation Table 3 2016 2017 % Change All Occupations 71,500 73,700 3.1 Management 6,000 6,700 11.7 Business, Finance and Administrative 10,300 10,300 0.0 Natural and Applied Sciences and Related 4,600 4,700 2.2 Health 6,300 6,500 3.2 Education, Law and Social, Community and Government Services 7,600 7,800 2.6 Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport 1,500 1,400-6.7 Sales and Service 17,700 18,500 4.5 Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators and Related 10,000 10,000 0.0 Natural resources, Agriculture, and Related 4,300 4,600 7.0 Manufacturing and Utilities 3,200 3,200 0.0 5
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM Table 282-0142 As seen above in Table 3, occupations in sales and service led the way in employment increases in 2017, increasing by 800 or 4.5 per cent. This was followed by occupations in management (+700). Notable occupations where declines occurred were art, culture, recreation and sport (-100). Labour Force Characteristics By Age and Gender The number of males employed increased by 1,100 over 2016, a rise of 2.7 per cent. Female employment increased by 1.0 per cent or 400. The largest increases occurred in males aged 25 to 44 (4.8 per cent or 700 persons) and females aged 25 to 44 (4.1 per cent or 600 persons). The number of employed people aged 65 and over increased by 15.0 per cent in 2017, with 400 more females in that age group and 200 more males. The unemployment rate for females fell by 0.6 percentage points to reach 8.1 per cent and the total labour force increased by 1.0 per cent. The unemployment rate for males declined by 1.3 percentage points to reach 11.3 per cent. The population cohort with the lowest unemployment rate in 2017 was females aged 45 to 64 with a rate of 7.5 per cent. The highest was for males 15 to 24 at 16.1 per cent. Labour Force characteristics by age and gender can be found in Table 4. Table 4 Labour Force Characteristics By Age and Gender Prince Edward Island 2017 Labour Force Males Employment Unemployment Rate Labour Force Females Employment Unemployment Rate 15-24 6.2 5.2 16.1 5.9 5.3 10.2 25-44 15.3 13.7 10.5 15.3 14.2 7.8 45-64 17.6 15.8 10.8 16.1 15.0 7.5 65+ 3.2 2.8 12.5 2.0 1.9 12.5 Total 42.3 37.5 11.3 39.4 36.3 8.1 Persons, thousands (except unemployment rates) Type of Employment In 2017 on PEI, full-time employment averaged 61,900 and part-time employment averaged 11,900. Part-time employment represented 16.1 per cent of total employment. This is a decrease from 2016 when part-time employment made up 17.1 per cent of total employment. At 83.9 per cent, PEI had the third highest percentage of full-time employment in the country, behind only New Brunswick at 85.5 per cent and Newfoundland and Labrador at 85.2 per cent. By comparison, nationally 19.1 per cent of total employment was part-time and 80.9 per cent was full-time in 2017. Percentage of total employment by type for Prince Edward Island since 2008 is shown in Diagram 6. 6
Diagram 6 100% 90% 80% persons, thousands 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Employment By Type Percentage of Total P.E.I. 2008-2017 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Part-time Full-time Reasons for Working Part-Time Diagram 7 Of PEI s 11,900 part-time workers in 2017, 31.4 per cent stated personal preference as the main reason for working part time, 28.8 per cent indicated going to school, 19.5 per cent stated business conditions, 13.6 per cent stated other reasons (voluntary, illness, family responsibilities, could not find full time work), and 6.8 per cent indicated they were caring for children as the main reason they were working part-time. persons, thousnads 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 3.7 Personal Preference Reasons for Working Part-time P.E.I. 2017 3.4 Going to School Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM Table 282-0014 2.3 Business Conditions 1.6 Other Reasons 0.8 Caring for Children 7
Wages According to the Labour Force Survey, PEI s average hourly wage rate was $21.76 in 2017. This is an increase of $0.65 or 3.1 per cent over 2016. The average hourly wage rate for Canada was $26.16 in 2017, an increase of 1.7 per cent over 2016. Since 2007, PEI s average hourly wage has increased by 35.7 per cent, while the average rate for Canada has increased by 28.2 per cent over the same period. Diagram 8 dollars 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 Average Hourly Wage Rate 2007-2017 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 Canada P.E.I. Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM Table 282-0072 8
Urban and Rural Areas Employment in urban areas 2 accounted for 62.7 per cent of total employment on Prince Edward Island in 2017, which translates into 46,300 employed persons. This is an increase of 4.3 per cent, or 1,900 persons, over 2016. Employment in rural areas increased by 400, or 1.5 per cent, over 2016. Employment in rural areas accounted for 37.3 per cent of total employment on PEI in 2017. The unemployment rate in rural areas increased by 0.1 percentage points to reach 14.1 per cent in 2017. In urban areas, the unemployment rate decreased by 1.6 percentage points to 7.0 per cent. More people were looking for work in both areas as the labour force increased by 2.5 per cent in urban areas and 1.3 per cent in rural areas. Labour force characteristics for urban and rural areas can be found in table 5 below. Table 5 Labour Force Characteristics by Urban and Rural Areas Prince Edward Island 2017 Urban Rural 2016 2017 Change 2016 2017 Change Population (15+) 72.3 73.8 2.1% 49.5 49.9 0.8% Labour Force 48.6 49.8 2.5% 31.5 31.9 1.3% Employment 44.4 46.3 4.3% 27.1 27.5 1.5% Unemployment 4.2 3.5-16.7% 4.4 4.5 2.3% Unemployment Rate(%) 8.6 7.0-1.6 14.0 14.1 0.1 Not In Labour Force 23.7 24.0 1.3% 18.0 18.0 0.0% Participation Rate (%) 67.2 67.5 0.3 63.6 63.9 0.3 Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, CANSIM Table 282-0119 For more information, contact: Colin Mosley Economist Statistics PEI Statistics Bureau Department of Finance 902-368-4035 cdmosley@gov.pe.ca A Guide To The Labour Force Survey for 2017 can be found on the Statistics Canada website: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/71-543-g/71-543-g2017001-eng.htm Totals may not equal the sum of components due to rounding. 2 Urban areas, as defined by Statistics Canada for Labour Force Survey purposes, consist of the Charlottetown and Summerside census agglomerations (CA). Charlottetown CA consists of Charlottetown, Stratford, Cornwall, Rocky Point, Lot 65, Meadowbank, Clyde River, Lot 31, Lot 23, Warren Grove, Miltonvale Park, Winsloe South, Brackley, Union Road, Lot 33, Lot 34, Lot 35, Lot 36, Scotchfort, and Lot 48. Summerside CA consists of Summerside, Linkletter, Lot 17, and Miscouche. Rural areas are the non-census agglomeration areas of the province. 9