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    Québec labour market situation continues to improve

    Montréal, October 27, 2021. – In the third quarter of 2021, employment was up in Québec for the second consecutive quarter. The addition of 56,100 jobs brought employment back to a level comparable to that before the pandemic.

    However, there were more full-time jobs (+27,300) and fewer part-time jobs (-44,000). At 99.6%, the proportion of jobs recovered in Québec was similar to that in Canada as a whole (99.7%). These are the main findings from an analysis entitled Comment évolue la participation au marché du travail en temps de pandémie au Québec et ailleurs au Canada?  – Troisième trimestre 2021 made public today by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.  

    Ratio of the number of people aged 15 and over employed in the third quarter of 2021 to the number in the fourth quarter of 2019, all of Canada and provinces

    Ratio of the number of people aged 15 and over employed in the third quarter of 2021 to the number in the fourth quarter of 2019, all of Canada and provinces

    Source: Statistique Canada, Labour Force Survey, 2021. Adapted by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.

    The unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2021 stood at 5.9% in Québec, close to pre-pandemic levels. Note that in the two years before the health crisis, the unemployment rate ranged between 5.0% and 5.5% in Québec.

    Unemployment rate, fourth quarter of 2019 and third quarter of 2021, 15 years and over, all of Canada and provinces

    Unemployment rate, fourth quarter of 2019 and third quarter of 2021, 15 years and over, all of Canada and provinces

    Source: Statistique Canada, Labour Survey Force, 2021. Adapted by the Institut de la statistique du Québec.

    Women’s employment still below pre-pandemic levels due to part-time employment

    Since the pandemic started, its impact has been greater on women’s than men’s labour force participation.

    In the third quarter of 2021, the number of jobs among men was the same as before the pandemic. This was the case for both full-time and part-time jobs. The situation was different for women, who held 32,100 fewer jobs in total. Part-time employment had the most catching up to do, at 88.8% of its pre-pandemic level (-56,000). This was the lowest rate among the provinces compared for this group.

    Youth employment back to its pre-pandemic level    

    By the third quarter of 2021, the number of jobs had nearly returned to its level before the health crisis for all three age groups studied: 15–24 years, 25–54 years, and 55 years and over. The same was true for all the provinces compared.

    In Québec, youth have been the most affected in terms of employment since the start of the pandemic. Their situation began to improve in the second quarter of 2021, then became comparable to before the crisis in the third quarter.

    The situation is more nuanced for those aged 55 and over. Although this age group saw its number of jobs return to pre-pandemic levels, it was also the only one to experience population growth (+92,500 people) over the period analyzed. Of that number, just over 70% were not in the labour force.

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    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.

     

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    E-mail: cid@stat.gouv.qc.ca

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