The coronavirus crisis forced Canada’s federal government to issue lockdown and shutdown measures to combat the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus. That harmed the country’s employment markets, resulting in the loss of over three million jobs. That said, people have lost their jobs, and they also have limited options when searching for employment due to stay-at-home measures.
As we experience the Covid-19 tidal wave, activities within Canada’s job market are beginning to revamp. A significant number of people have returned to work, including some of the non-essential services.
According to a surveillance report by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) in August indicated that the government’s decision to ease movement and lockdown restrictions opened up more employment opportunities for Canadians in general. The study findings come as good news to the immigration department, which aims to carry-on inviting foreign workers in the bid to recover and bolster the country’s economy.
According to the report, the employment rate increased by 1.4%, bringing it within 5.7%, which was the rate during the pre-Covid-19 era. Furthermore, the rate of employment for immigrants who have permanent residency rose by 1.6% while engagement among recently-landed immigrants went up by 2.2%. It’s a sharp increase caused by the reduction in immigrant population as flights from foreign countries were practically banned.
The LFS Study Findings
One of the major conclusions derived from the August study is that Canada’s economy is progressing on the right path, thanks to the safe return-to-work policies by the government. Still, several aspects stood out:
- Significant increases in the employment rate occurred among full-time workers/employees.
- The service sector recorded a higher increase in employment rates (+1.5%) as compared to the good-production sectors.
- The increase in the number of employment opportunities in the service sectors, was concentrated in specific industries that include accommodation and food services, education, and the cosmetic industry, particularly the hard-hit hair salons and beauty parlours.
- In the goods manufacturing sector, employment was partly affected by the decline in natural resources and raw materials.
