Canada churns out 43,000 jobs

US Department of Labor Statistics (click here)

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Jan. 23 were in Oregon (+4,336), Puerto Rico (+2,439), and Hawaii (+18), while the largest decreases were in California (-22,674), Michigan (-11,757), North Carolina (-9,546), Georgia (-7,588), and Missouri (-7,577).



Economy creates a slew of part-time positions, sending the jobless rate down a notch to 8.3% (click title to entry - thank you)

Tavia Grant

Toronto — Globe and Mail

Update Published on Friday, Feb. 05, 2010 7:06AM EST

Last updated on Friday, Feb. 05, 2010 8:34AM EST

The Canadian economy created a stronger-than-expected 43,000 jobs in January, led by part-time work, the fourth employment gain in six months.

The country's jobless rates fell a notch to 8.3 per cent, a nine-month low, Statistics Canada said Friday.

It's a far cry from the same month last year, when employment in Canada plunged by 130,000 – the most on record. Though much of last month's gains stemmed from lower-paying part-time work, the private sector is now adding to payrolls.

“Part-time jobs are better than none,” said Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist at BAnk of Montreal in a note. Though jobs numbers have been bumpy in recent months, employment is now just 0.1 per cent below year-ago levels, “an amazingly quick turnaround from the dismal conditions of early last year, all things considered.”...