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March 10, 2017US EMPLOYMENT, FEBRUARY 2017 US non-farm employment rose +235,000 in February, consistent with the revised increase of 238,000 reported for January. Over the previous 12 months, employment increased by an average of +196,000 per month.
Construction (+58,000), education (+29,000, private), manufacturing (+28,000), health care (+27,000), professional/business services (+37,000) and mining (+8,000) all contributed to the employment gain. The gain in mining continues that sector's employment recovery since reaching a recent low last October. Employment was down in retail trade (-26,000) in February and little changed in other sectors (wholesale, transportation, information, finance, hospitality, government).
The US civilian labour force increased 340,000 in February and the unemployment rate declined to 4.7 per cent.
In comparison, the NS unemployment rate for February was 8.1 per cent while Canada's was 6.6 per cent. Although monthly unemployment rates are more variable in Nova Scotia (smaller sample size) the long run average of NS unemployment rates is typically higher than the US, except during the 2009 recession.
The US employment rate continued its slow upward trend in February, reaching 60.0 per cent. This is higher than the NS February employment rate of 56.4 per cent, which has been trending down as the NS population ages more into traditional retirement years.
The US participation rate rose again in February to 63.0 per cent. The NS participation rate in the labour force has also been trending down (61.4 per cent in February); coinciding with aging of the population.
Note: NS and US labour force statistics refer to different working-age cohorts.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Statistics Canada CANSIM table 282-0087
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