Montréal, December 4, 2020. – Employment was little changed (+15,700; +0.4%) in Québec in November from October 2020. The unemployment rate declined 0.5 percentage points in November to 7.2%. These are the main highlights from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey results released today.
Employment increased by 709,700 since May, which represents more than 85% of the 820,500 jobs lost between February and April 2020.
In November, full-time employment edged up (+15,400), while part-time employment (+500) remained stable. The private sector (-30,000) posted a decrease, while the public sector registered an increase (+44,600). Self-employment was stable (+1,200). The participation rate declined by 0.2 points to 64.4%. The employment rate rose 0.1 points to 59.8%.
In Canada, in November, employment was up by 62,100 (+0.3%). The unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 points to 8.5%. Ontario (+36,600) and British Columbia (+23,900) posted the largest employment gains.
In the first eleven months of 2020, employment in Québec fell by 209,300 compared with the same period last year. During this period, full-time employment declined by 105,100, while part-time employment decreased by 104,200. Since the beginning of 2020, the unemployment rate in Québec has averaged 9.0% (Canada: 9.5%).
Changes in employment and trend-cycle data, Québec, November 2019 to November 2020
Note: Trend-cycle data are a smoothed version of seasonally-adjusted data where the effects of irregular movements have been reduced. They are helpful in analyzing long-term changes in the data. For more information: Statistics Canada, Trend-cycle estimates – Frequently asked questions.
Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, 2020. Adapted by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
Changes in the unemployment rate, Québec, November 2019 to November 2020
Source: : Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey, 2020. Adapted by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.
A word of caution regarding the effects of COVID-19 on LFS data
The effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the labour market in November must be interpreted with caution when analyzing Labour Force Survey (LFS) data.
The survey reference period for November is November 8 to 14. The correct categorization of individual labour force status according to the usual definitions of employment, unemployment1 and inactivity may have been more difficult in this edition of the survey, as has been the case since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. The COVID-19 section of the Institut de la statistique du Québec’s website provides analyses of the pandemic’s impact in Québec. It should also be noted that the monthly data are based on a sample and are therefore subject to a certain amount of variability.
1 The Labour Force Survey defines unemployed persons as those who, during the reference week: 1- were on temporary layoff with an expectation of recall and were available for work, or 2- were without work, had looked for work in the past four weeks, and were available for work, or 3- had a new job to start within four weeks, and were available for work.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec produces, analyzes and disseminates official, objective and quality statistical information on various aspects of Québec society. It is responsible for conducting all statistical surveys of general interest. The relevance of its work makes it a strategic ally for decision makers and all those wishing to learn more about Québec.