With 'friends' like these... Facebook Firings.

Are you reading this on our Facebook page? Are you reading this work? Are you Facebook friends with your boss? You'd better be careful!

Cases of disputed dismissal because of someone's actions aren't news - they've been happening since the dawn of the Internet. But as social media becomes more & more popular and your network of 'friends' becomes larger & larger, you've really got to be careful of what you say.

Take for instance a recent British Columbia Labour Board's ruling upholding the dismissal of two employees at a car detailing company for making remarks about their boss. The Labour Board found that these comments were creating a negative and hostile work environment and even constituted insubordination.

The catch is that their boss was among their friends who received live status updates - on his mobile phone.

In the US it's a different story because Facebook notices are protected under The First Amendment?

So the moral of the story is, the next time you have a blow-out at work and take out your mobile phone to update your Facebook status, think twice about who's going to read it! Toronto employment lawyer, Daniel Lublin says this is why not to add your manager as a friend.

The Labour Survey is to be released on Friday - what are the expectations?

Statistics Canada will release the labour survey this Friday December 3 for the month of November and the predictions are strong.

Reuters is predicting job gains of 18,000 - a sharp rise from October's overall gains of 3,000. While the unemployment rate is expected to stay higher than hoped at 7.9%, this reflects a greater number of people reentering the job-hunt and can be seen as an overall improvement in confidence.

Here's a link to the Reuters Preview in full.

Contract workers are in high demand in Canada & CMS can help.

A study released today by Statistics Canada shows that the demand for contract employees has risen by more than 50% in contrast to the previous year. The study's author goes on to clearly state “contract employment has been the main source of growth in temporary work,” and it represents a facet of growth overall in the Canada's rebound from the economical uncertainties of 2008/09.

Interestingly, 1 in 8 employees were employed on a temporary basis in 2009.

Employers are relying more & more on contract workers because of the flexibility they offer as demand for output waxes & wains. CMS are well versed in contract placements and we encourage you to review our Employers web page for more information on how we can fill your work-force demands.

Here is the study in full by Statistics Canada.

Study: Temporary employment in the downturn

1997 to 2009

In 2009, 1.8 million Canadians worked in some type of temporary job. Temporary work accounted for 12.5% of paid employment, a slight decrease from its peak of 13.2% in 2005.

After growing rapidly from 1997 to 2005, the temporary employment rate slowed in 2006. The number of temporary jobs declined a year before the downturn in total employment.

On average, these temporary jobs pay lower wages and provide fewer benefits than permanent positions. In addition, they are non-unionized and part time more often. Although temporary jobs are typically viewed as a uniform group, trends in temporary employment as well as their underlying issues vary widely depending on the type of job.

In 2009, contract positions accounted for just over one-half (52%) of temporary jobs, representing nearly 1 million workers. The other half was equally composed of seasonal and casual workers.

Since 1997, contract jobs have grown at a faster pace than other types of temporary employment. Contract jobs increased by more than 3% between 2005 and 2009, despite the overall employment downturn in 2008.

Professionals make up a large proportion of contract employees. On average, contract workers are more educated and slightly younger than permanent workers. Contract jobs are concentrated in health, education and public administration, industries that were relatively untouched by the recent economic slowdown.

From 2005 to 2009, seasonal employment fell by more than 3%. The number of seasonal jobs fell in traditionally seasonal industries like fishing and forestry, as well as in manufacturing and accommodation and food services.

In 2009, construction remained the top industry for seasonal employment, followed by information and cultural industries and the primary sector.

Casual jobs are those whose hours vary according to the demands of the employer. They are found mainly in retail and wholesale trade, education, health care, and the accommodation and food services industries.

Casual employment fell by more than 10% between 2005 and 2009, with losses affecting most sectors. Nearly one-half (47%) of casual workers were under 25 years of age, and one-quarter of them were students.

The hourly wage gap between temporary and permanent positions varied from 14% for contract jobs to nearly 34% for seasonal and casual positions. This gap remained constant both in periods of growth and slowdown.

Part of the gap was due to the relative youth of temporary workers, in general, and lower average education levels of seasonal and casual workers. After adjusting for such differences, the gap was much smaller. It ranged from 5% to 21%, depending on sex and the type of temporary job.

Characteristics such as unionization, work patterns and company size explained another portion of the gap. After these factors were taken into account, the gap for casual workers was nearly the same as the gap for all other temporary workers.

Temporary workers also work fewer hours, on average, which increases the weekly earnings gap with permanent employees.

Note: The article "Temporary employment in the downturn" is based on the Labour Force Survey. It examines temporary employment, its main components (seasonal, contract and casual jobs) and how they performed during the most recent employment slowdown. A brief profile of workers in temporary jobs is also provided, as well as characteristics of their jobs. Finally, the earnings gap between temporary and permanent positions is examined.

Monthly employment earnings for September more than 4% better than last year's

StatsCan released their monthly earning charts today and announced that earnings have risen 4.3% from last September. This is the second month that wages rose by more than 4% and proves to be yet another great sign of economic rebound in Canada. To put this in contrast, the year over year different for the better part of 2009 was -2%!

Average weekly earning grew to $864.13.

This leap not only indicates employers are paying more these days, it also reflects that employees are working more. The increase in time worked between September '10 and '09 was nearly 1%.

Newfoundland, Ontario, Alberta and Quebec all realized growth above the national average this month.

How about your earnings? Have you seen a raise that's suitable for you? If not, maybe it is time to see all of the jobs across Canada that we are presently filling. Get in touch with us for more information and if you don't see anything appealing, follow us on Twitter to keep plugged into to our current openings.

Here is the article in full from Statistics Canada;

Payroll employment, earnings and hours

Between September 2009 and September 2010, average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employees rose 4.3% to $864.13. This was the second consecutive month with year-over-year growth over 4.0%.

Some of the weekly earnings growth is attributable to an increase in the number of hours worked per week between September 2009 and September of 2010 (+0.9%). The remainder of the increase reflects a number of other factors, including changes in the composition of employment by industry, changes in occupations within industry, job experience, as well as wage growth.

The pace of growth in earnings has been increasing in recent months. September marked the sixth consecutive month in which the year-over-year increase surpassed 3.0%. In contrast, year-over-year growth was below 2.0% for most of 2009.

Average weekly earnings increased in most provinces from September 2009 to September 2010. Growth was above the national average in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Alberta and Quebec.

Note to readers

The Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours (SEPH) is a business census of non-farm payroll employees. Its key objective is to provide a monthly portrait of the level of earnings, the number of jobs and hours worked by detailed industry at the national, provincial and territorial level.

Statistics Canada also produces employment estimates from its monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFS is a household survey whose main objective is to divide the working-age population into three mutually exclusive classifications — the employed (including the self-employed), unemployed and not in the labour force. This survey is the official source for the unemployment rate and collects data on the socio-demographic characteristics of all those in the labour market.

As a result of these conceptual and methodological differences, estimates of changes from SEPH and LFS do differ from time to time. However, the trends in the data are quite similar.

Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted data, which facilitates comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations.

All earnings data include overtime pay and exclude businesses which could not be classified to a North American Industrial Classification System code.

Average weekly earnings are derived by dividing total weekly earnings by the number of employees.

Changes in average earnings can be influenced by a number of factors. Changes in the level of earnings, the number of payroll employees, and the number of hours worked can have an impact. Other factors could include compositional changes over time, such as changes in the proportions of full-time and part-time work; proportions of casual, senior and junior employees; the occupational distribution within and across industries; and in the distribution of employment between industries. Such effects may apply differently within different provinces and territories, and over time.

Because earnings can be influenced by any number of these factors, it is sometimes the case where earnings are moving in one direction and payroll employment is going the opposite direction (either at the aggregate level, by sector or industry).

Year-over-year growth was slowest in Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, while earnings declined slightly in New Brunswick.

Average weekly earnings by industry

Among Canada's largest industrial sectors, growth in average weekly earnings from September 2009 to September 2010 was above the national average of 4.3% in wholesale trade; accommodation and food services; administrative and support services; educational services; and professional, scientific and technical services. The slowest growth in earnings occurred in retail trade.

In the wholesale trade sector, average weekly earnings have been steadily increasing, reaching $1,031.92 in September. This was an 8.9% increase from September 2009, when earnings hit the most recent low.

Among the larger wholesale industries, the growth in earnings during this one-year period was strongest in computer and communications equipment and supplies (+15.2%); construction, forestry, mining, and industrial machinery, equipment and supplies (+13.3%); and food wholesalers (+13.2%).

Non-farm payroll employment by industry

In September, non-farm payroll employment edged up 0.1% (+14,100) from August, following a similar percentage increase the month before. Since September 2009, the number of payroll employees has increased by 1.6% (+236,200).

In the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector, the number of workers on payroll rose by 1.7% (+3,200) in September, the eighth consecutive monthly increase. Most of September's increase came from mining for oil and gas. Since September 2009, payroll employment in this sector has increased by 11.6% (+20,000). Payroll jobs rose in all industries in this sector during the year, led by support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction (+12,800).

In public administration, payroll employment increased by 0.7% (+7,500) in September, with gains in the federal, provincial and municipal administration. Despite the increase, payroll jobs in public administration remained 0.2% below the level in September 2009.

The number of jobs in health care and social assistance increased by 0.4% (+5,900) from August. The gains were mainly in individual and family services and general medical and surgical hospitals. Since September 2009, payroll employment in this sector has increased by 2.7% (+43,200), making it one of the top contributors to total growth over the year.

In manufacturing, payroll jobs increased by 0.4% in September (+5,600), following declines in the previous two months. Most of September's gains were in seafood product preparation and packaging; motor vehicle; and motor vehicle parts manufacturing. Since September 2009, total factory jobs have risen by 0.7% (+10,900), with most of the increases in early 2010.

In the construction sector, payroll employment has changed little since April of this year. However, compared with September 2009, jobs in this sector have risen by 3.2% (+25,600).

Hours worked and average hours worked by hourly and salaried employees

Total hours worked by hourly and salaried employees were down by 0.3% in September, the second consecutive monthly decline. Despite these decreases, total hours were up 2.1% over the past 12 months.

Average weekly hours worked by hourly and salaried employees amounted to 32.9 hours in September. This was unchanged from the previous month but up from 32.6 hours in September 2009.

Available on CANSIM: tables 281-0023 to 281-0039 and 281-0041 to 281-0046.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2612.

Detailed industry data, data by size of enterprise based on employment, and other labour market indicators will be available soon in the monthly publication Employment, Earnings and Hours (72-002-X, free).

Data on payroll employment, earnings and hours for October will be released on December 23.

For more information, or to order data, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-866-873-8788; 613-951-4090; labour@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about revisions, concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Jeannine Usalcas (613-951-4720), Labour Statistics Division.

Canadian Staffing Index shows Higher Gains in October

ACSESS, the of Association Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services released their monthly Staffing Index for October today and shows further gains in the staffing industry. This is the index' third straight month of gains and shows a 29% improvement over May of 2009.

This is no surprise to us here at CMS as we've seen huge growth in our Current Job Opportunities - particularly with new Insurance & Finance jobs and Executive & Management positions added just today.

Here's the press release in full from ACSESS from The Canadian News Wire;

October Continues Trend of Recovery

ACSESS Canadian Staffing Index Positive Again

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - The Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services (ACSESS) released the Canadian Staffing Index for October 2010.

The Canadian Staffing Index saw another point gained on its ride to the 100 benchmark set in July 2008. The October reading of 94 was the third month in a row the Index increased and represents a 29 point increase over the May 2009 low of 65.

As predicted by many business analysts our economic recovery will be long and slow. The Canadian Staffing Index for October support ACSESS' belief that the staffing industry is the first to see both positive and negative corrections resulting from economic influences.

Steve Jones, ACSESS President, says "The mere one point growth signifies organizations continue to watch the global economy and are cautious in their hiring strategies. However, it is a trend that has seen us recover 29 points in the last 17 months and ACSESS Members across the country are reporting that they are getting very busy. We continue to believe this Index is an excellent indicator of the state of Canada's labour market."

About the Canadian Staffing Index:

The data collected for the Canadian Staffing Index is the largest sample size ever collected in Canada. An Index value of 94 measures the hours of labour performed by temporary and contract staff in October 2010 compared to the benchmark index of 100 established in July 2008. ACSESS shares this valuable information with the business world as this data is indicative of the current employment landscape and provides future insight to economic development.

About ACSESS

ACSESS is the single voice for promoting best practices and ethical standards for the recruitment, employment and staffing services industry in Canada. For more information visit: www.acsess.org

About Staffing Industry Analysts

Staffing Industry Analysts is the premier research and analysis firm covering temporary employment and the contingent workforce. Known for its independent and objective insights, the company's proprietary research, data, support tools, publications and executive conferences provide a competitive edge to decision-makers who supply and buy temporary staffing. In addition to temporary staffing, Staffing Industry Analysts also covers these related staffing sectors: third party placement, and staff leasing (PEOs). Founded in 1989, the company is headquartered in Los Altos, California. For more information visit: www.staffingindustry.com

For further information:

Media Contact:
Suzanne McInerney, CPC
Communications and Marketing Specialist
Phone 905-826-6869 / Toll Free: 1-888-232-4962
Email: smcinerney@acsess.org

Beware the 'holiday shopping flu' - there's only one prescription!

A study released today by eBay says that nearly half of Canadians are feeling the stress of finding the perfect gift this holiday season and 20% are considering skipping work to find it. An additional 13% say the stress of the holidays distract from their productivity at work.

The study goes on to say that 13% of employees would consider shopping online from their desks at work.

Here's the study from TNS Ncompass;

"Holiday shopping flu" may cause workplace absence, according to new research

Nearly 50 per cent of Canadians buying holiday presents say finding the perfect gift is stressful

TORONTO, Nov. 18 /CNW/ - The pressure to find the perfect gift may cause some Canadians to call in sick this holiday season, according to new research that reveals two-in-10 Canadians have skipped work - or considered it - in order to complete their holiday shopping. Others (13 per cent) are simply distracted by holiday shopping at their job, placing further pressure on their work/life balance.

According to the eBay Canada-sponsored survey, on average, shoppers are on the hunt for 14 perfect presents to give to nine different people this holiday season. Many shoppers are unknowingly increasing their stress level and decreasing their productivity by not going online.

While Canadians are planning to do more of their holiday shopping online this year, many are still stuck in an old-fashioned shopping mall mindset. According to the research, the overwhelming majority of Canadians buying gifts are still shopping during regular store hours, with only nine per cent taking advantage of 24-7 online service by shopping late at night, and even fewer (five per cent) shopping on-the-go with their mobile phone.

"For many, offline holiday shopping isn't retail therapy, it's retail agony," said Kimberly Moffit, a psychotherapist and eBay Canada's holiday counsellor. "Holiday shoppers are likely juggling work, family life, social engagements and holiday activities, and they're constantly feeling like they're running around and running out of time. As a result, they've put themselves in a stressful situation - some are even calling in sick with what we call the 'holiday shopping flu,' - while others admit that holiday shopping distracts them from their job."

"However, Canadians shouldn't give up on finding the perfect gift. Instead, busy shoppers should look for ways to integrate their shopping into their daily routine. It's about picking the right place and the right time. Rather than dashing to the mall at lunch time, shopping from the comfort of your desk is viable option - and certainly more productive and less stressful. The same goes for shopping by mobile phone on your commute home or in the evening - online shoppers are able to tackle their wish list without all of the unnecessary offline stress," says Moffit.

This is good news for Canadians who are shopping for the perfect gifts.

"Ferreting out the perfect gift amidst the chaos of busy malls and bustling Main Street is a pulse-elevating stress test nobody needs to take," says Tommy Smythe, one of Canada's top home décor designers and eBay's holiday gift giving expert. "Shopping online - from a computer or a mobile phone - is a stress-free way to save time and find unique, hard-to-find, or rare items that really show friends and family how much you care."

The survey also uncovered some additional interesting information about Canadians buying holiday presents:

• Thirteen per cent would consider doing their holiday shopping online at work.
• Twenty-one per cent have at least considered calling in sick to go holiday shopping.
• Six per cent have actually called in sick to do their holiday shopping.
• Holiday shopping distracts 20 per cent of Canadians from spending time with friends and family. Spending time exercising and participating in social activities also suffers during the holiday shopping season.
• More Canadians are going online to do their holiday shopping, with nearly three in ten increasing their shopping online this year.
• Saving time, avoiding crowds, and finding the best price, are also motivating Canadians to head online.

Canadians looking for the perfect gift should visit www.ebay.ca to get started. For on-the-go shopping, Canadians can also download eBay mobile apps for their iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry or Windows Phone 7 device.

About the survey
TNS Ncompass Online Omnibus, conducted an online omnibus survey, interviewing 1079 adults aged 16 - 64. Interviewing was conducted between, 30th September and 4^th October 2010. Sample was weighted to represent the adult population of Canada aged 16-64.

About eBay
Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. connects millions of buyers and sellers globally on a daily basis through eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, and PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send and receive online payments. We also reach millions through specialized marketplaces such as StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace, and eBay Classifieds sites, which together have a presence in more than 1,000 cities around the world. In Canada, eBay was visited by nearly 6.9 million Canadians in August 2010. (comScore Media Metrix).

You know we're on the right track when the food service industry returns to pre-recession levels!

A new report released today by the Conference Board of Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada said that Canada’s food, retail and accommodations sectors are expected to serve up a 20% jump in profits this year. This will put Canada's food service industry at pre-recession levels and marks yet another crown of achievement in Canada's growth over the past year.

The study credits Canada's creation of more than 375K jobs over the past 12 months for the growth in the service sector. It goes on to say that restaurants and the food service sector were the worst hit of the service industries, however this sector has recovered remarkably well. More patrons combined with higher prices will allow industry profits to return to their pre-recession peak of $1.3 billion this year, the report said.

Here's the report in full from the Conference Board of Canada;

SERVICE INDUSTRIES PROFITS BOUNCE BACK IN 2010 THANKS TO STRONG JOB CREATION DURING FIRST HALF OF YEAR

www.conferenceboard.ca

OTTAWA, Nov. 22 /CNW/ - Profits in 2010 will rebound by more than 20 per cent in the food services, retail, and accommodation industries, according to the Autumn 2010 edition of the Canadian Industrial Profile Service.

The Autumn edition of the Canadian Industrial Profile Service, published by The Conference Board of Canada in collaboration with Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), provides a five-year (2010-2014) production, revenue, cost and profitability forecast for six Canadian industries:

• Accommodation
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• Food Services
• Retail Trade
• Transportation and Warehousing
• Wholesale Trade

"Profits will rebound this year in four of the six industries covered in this outlook. The other two industries—transportation and warehousing, and food and beverage manufacturing—can expect slight declines in profits in 2010," said Michael Burt, Associate Director, Industrial Economic Trends. "Weaker economic growth in the second half of 2010 will dampen profitability in 2011 for most of the industries covered."

"Despite signs of recovery, entrepreneurs have had difficulty accessing working capital. To address their needs, BDC has increased its financing activities and, for most industries, posted double-digit growth in loan dollars authorised. BDC loans to the accommodation sector increased by 55 per cent in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009," said Jérôme Nycz, BDC Vice President, Strategy and ERM. "We also took the initiative and promoted an Economic Recovery Loans Program from July to October. Almost 3,800 entrepreneurs took advantage of the program and received pre-authorized BDC loans to finance their operations. Businesses in the hospitality sector were among the most responsive to it. In the current fiscal year, almost 60 per cent of BDC loans to the accommodation industry have been economic recovery loans."

Accommodation

Sales are up, occupancy rates are rising, and prices have improved in the accommodation industry, producing a 24 per cent increase in profits this year. In the first half of 2010, improved corporate profitability and strong employment growth led to more business and personal travel. Domestic travellers remain the main source of growth for the industry, as most other developed economies continue to struggle, and the high dollar makes Canada a more expensive destination for international visitors.

Food and Beverage Manufacturing

In contrast to many other industries, the food and beverage manufacturing industry continued to grow through 2009. A stable domestic market and growing exports to emerging economies contributed to the industry's expansion. But agricultural and energy prices are on the rise and this is expected to lead to a modest correction in industry profits this year and next.

Food Services

With strong job creation occurring in the first half of 2010, consumers started returning to restaurants and spent more dining out. Full-service restaurants bore the brunt of the recession's effects and sales in this segment are proving slow to recover. However, rising sales and price increases will allow industry profits to recover to their pre-recession peak of $1.3 billion in 2010.

Retail Trade

Retail sales rebounded in the first half of the year, but recent fears of slowing economic activity have led to a pause in retail spending growth. Retailers of durable goods—such as furniture, electronics, and motor vehicles—suffered the largest declines during the recession and many have not fully recovered. Sales growth is expected to resume in the coming months. These gains, combined with cost savings from the strong Canadian dollar, will help industry profits to reach a new high of $12.8 billion in 2010.

Transportation and Warehousing

International trade activity has rebounded, boosting demand for transportation services. Industry costs are increasing, however, because fuel prices are on the rise. As a result, the industry will have to wait another year for profits to improve. Profits are expected to decline by 7.5 per cent to $5.1 billion this year before growing steadily over the next four years.

Wholesale Trade

The rebound in retail sales contributed to a recovery in revenues for the wholesale trade industry, even though overall sales are not back to their pre-recession peak. In particular, wholesalers of machinery and equipment have yet to see an improvement in sales. Manufacturers and businesses remain uncertain about the pace of recovery and are waiting before investing in new machinery. Nonetheless, industry profits are forecast to rise by almost 10 per cent in 2010.

The Canadian Industrial Profile Service is part of The Conference Board of Canada's Industrial Economic Trends research. Outlooks for 23 industries are completed each year. The publications are available at www.e-library.ca. BDC clients who wish to receive a copy of the profiles free of charge can contact their BDC account manager.

BDC is Canada's business development bank. From more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to entrepreneurs. Visit www.bdc.ca for more information

News From Statistics Canada - What Provinces Grew The Most in 2009?

StatsCan released their annual productivity report today that shows provincial gains in productivity across Canada. 2009 was a tough year across the globe but all things said, Canada managed to stay consistent through the year with slight declines offset by growth.

Five provinces posted growth and among them were PEI, Yukon, Manitoba and BC - with Quebec posting the most growth. Unfortunately, resource based provinces did post a loss.

The good news here is the huge growth we're seeing now in 2010. A quick look at our job postings will show you that all of our provinces are picking up in the last quarter of 2010! When this report is released next year, we all expect higher gains.

Here's the report in full by Statics Canada.



Hours worked and labour productivity in the provinces and territories

Labour productivity of the business sector increased in Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia as well as Yukon in 2009. At the national level, productivity was unchanged in 2009, after decreasing by 0.8% a year earlier.

The strongest growth in business productivity occurred in Quebec in 2009, where it increased by 2.0%. The largest declines occurred in the resource-based economies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Labour productivity in the business sector by province and territory, 2009

Both business output and hours worked fell in all provinces and territories except the Yukon.

Nationally, productivity of services-producing businesses increased 1.2%, while that of the goods-producing businesses remained unchanged after three consecutive years of decreases. Real gross domestic product (GDP) fell 9.0% in the goods-producing businesses and 1.0% in the services-producing businesses.

In 2009, businesses adjusted to the economic downturn by sharply reducing hours worked. The weakness in output and in the employment market was confined mostly to the first half of the year.

Average hourly compensation in Canadian businesses rose 3.0% in 2009, same as the previous year. Provincially, Newfoundland and Labrador (+9.4%) had the largest increase in average hourly compensation.
Atlantic provinces

Business productivity rose 0.4% in Prince Edward Island; the only province in Atlantic Canada to record an increase. Real GDP of businesses, which fell 1.9%, was accompanied by an even sharper decline of 2.4% in hours worked.
Note to readers

This release covers provincial and territorial data on labour productivity and related variables by business-sector industry. It constitutes a revision for 2004 to 2009 of the estimates released on June 4. The revisions bring the data into line with the revised data of the "Provincial and territorial economic accounts," published on November 4.

Labour productivity is a measure of real gross domestic product per hour worked. Productivity gains occur when the production of goods and services grows faster than the volume of work dedicated to their production.

Economic performance, as measured by labour productivity, must be interpreted carefully, as these data reflect changes in other inputs, in particular capital, in addition to the efficiency growth of production processes. As well, growth in labour productivity is often influenced by the degree of diversity in the industrial structure. As a result, labour productivity tends to be more volatile in the smaller provinces.

For the purpose of this analysis, as in the national labour productivity releases, productivity measures cover the business sector. It is important to note that real production is based on value added measured at basic prices, not market prices, which is consistent with the detailed framework by industry.

As well, the service-producing business sector and its component, finance, insurance and real estate, exclude the imputed rent for owner-occupied dwellings, because there are no data on the number of hours that homeowners spend on dwelling maintenance services.

In Nova Scotia, productivity was unchanged for a second consecutive year, as real GDP contracted at the same pace as hours worked. A 1.5% decrease in output was due largely to substantial declines in mining and oil and gas extraction and in manufacturing.

In New Brunswick, business productivity was also unchanged after falling 2.7% in 2008. Construction was the main contributor to a 1.7% decline in real GDP.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, productivity fell 8.7% in 2009, the largest decline among the provinces. Real output was down for the first time since 2004, because of a sharp downturn in oil and metallic mineral extraction. At the same time, hours worked fell by 6.3%, also the largest decrease among the provinces.
Hours worked in business sector by province and territory, 2009
Central Canada

In Quebec, most industries contributed to the 2.0% productivity increase. Large advances occurred in retail trade, transportation and warehousing, and the information and cultural industries.

Real GDP of Quebec businesses fell 1.8%, the result of substantial declines in forestry and manufacturing, especially transportation equipment. Hours worked declined 3.7%, with cuts in every industry except finance, insurance and real estate. Manufacturing productivity in Quebec was up 0.9%, its seventh consecutive year of growth.

In Ontario, productivity declined 0.3% compared with a 1.8% decline in 2008. Manufacturing, mining, and transportation and warehousing were responsible for almost the entire 2009 decrease. Weakness in the manufacturing sector, especially the motor vehicle and parts industry, again lowered growth in business output.

Manufacturing productivity in Ontario fell 1.2%, a smaller decline than in 2008. Output and hours worked in manufacturing both fell by more than 10%. It was the fifth consecutive decline in hours worked.
Western provinces

In Manitoba, business productivity rose 0.9%, after remaining unchanged in 2008. Hours worked fell by 1.9%, more than twice the decline of 0.9% in real GDP. The main contributors to the decline in output were agriculture and manufacturing.

In Saskatchewan, business productivity declined 4.1%, compared with a 3.2% gain in 2008 that led all provinces. Hours worked fell by 2.1% in 2009, while real GDP of businesses declined (-6.0%) for the first time since 2006, primarily because of a steep decline in mining, oil and gas production.

In Alberta, business productivity was down 1.3%, the third consecutive decrease. The main contributors to the productivity decline were construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and transportation and warehousing. Real GDP of businesses fell 6.7%, mainly a result of declines in construction and manufacturing. Hours worked in businesses fell 5.5%, with the largest declines in mining and oil and gas extraction and in construction.

After two consecutive annual decreases, business productivity in British Columbia rebounded by 1.2% in 2009. Real GDP of businesses declined by 3.9%, while hours worked fell by 5.2%. The weakness in real GDP was due primarily to manufacturing and forestry. The main contributors to the decrease in hours worked were forestry, mining, construction, manufacturing and wholesale trade.
The territories

Business productivity in Yukon rebounded with a 0.6% gain in 2009, as real output grew at a faster pace than hours worked. This followed a 6.0% productivity decline in 2008. The main factors in increases in both real output and hours worked were mining operations and construction work associated with the development of a new mine.

In the Northwest Territories, productivity fell 3.4%, following a sharp 8.8% drop in 2008. Substantially lower output by diamond mines due to weaker global demand was responsible for the decrease. Hours worked declined 12.2%, the largest drop in the country.

In Nunavut, productivity fell 12.7% in 2009. Business output was down sharply with the end of construction at the Meadowbank Gold Mine.

The West is the Best - As Far As Growth in 2011 Is Concerned Anyways

Scotia Trends released a report yesterday ranking economical advancement by province and the results are clear - Western Canada is the place to be.

The report cites Central Canada's reliance on the US as a big reason for Western Canada leading the pack. Alberta and Saskatchewan are in top places - largely due to their resources. In third place for growth is Newfoundland due to their natural resources.

The report credits export commodities and capital investment as the two top fuellers of Canada's economic growth in 2011.

Here's an article in full from John Morrissy of the Financial Post.

West rises out of recession's ashes

OTTAWA — The West will lead Canada in 2011 and for years to come as the country's economic strength continues to shift toward resources and away manufacturing, says the author of a new Provincial Trends report from Scotia Economics.

"With Central Canada being much more tied to the U.S. economy, we see the Western provinces outperforming mainly on the fact that the one thing that's going to keep going in spite of decreased activity in the U.S. is our commodity exports," said economist Alex Koustas.

The divide between the East and the West is reflected in the bank's provincial growth forecasts for 2011. While the expectation is for generally slower growth, the numbers wane when you move out of the resource-based West and into manufacturing-focused Ontario and Quebec

Alberta will lead with growth of 3.5 per cent, followed by Saskatchewan at 3.3 per cent. In Ontario and Quebec, the forecasts drop to two per cent and 1.9 per cent, respectively.

"With the consumer growth profile in Canada shifting down a bit along with the housing sector, the two big drivers are going to be (commodities) exports and capital investment," said Koustas. "A lot of the big capital projects that we're seeing are in the West."

Alberta's energy sector and its renewed slate of oilsands projects are going to be "a huge driver of investment," along with continued growth in Saskatchewan's potash industry and oilfields, and British Columbia's mining and natural gas industries, Koustas said.

Newfoundland and Labrador also ranks near the top of the growth profile for the year ahead, at 3.1 per cent, driven by demand for its deposits of iron ore and nickel.

The general slowing trend in the economy results from a winding down of the inventory restocking cycle, a cooling in housing activity a more cautious consumer and a winding down of recession-related stimulus spending.

But a lower-priced U.S. dollar and commodity demand from emerging markets will offset the decline, the report said.

As a result, "the West will continue to be one of the strongest performing regions in Canada for the next couple of years," Koustas said.

That strength is helping Central Canada withstand the effects of an over-priced loonie and weak demand for Canadian exports from the U.S., he added.

"Now a lot of manufacturers are shipping out west to supply those capital projects and avoiding U.S. currency problems altogether."

The Maritimes are projected to deliver growth of about two per cent in 2011, which reflects the fact that New Brunswick, Nova Scota and Prince Edward Island were hit less hard during the recession and are therefore not showing the kinds of rebounds from more depressed levels like in Alberta.

Forecast GDP growth for 2011

British Columbia 2.8%

Alberta 3.5%

Saskatchewan 3.3%

Manitoba 2.5%

Ontario 2.0%

Quebec 1.9%

New Brunswick 2.0%

Nova Scotia 1.9%

Prince Edward Island 1.9%

Newfoundland and Labrador 3.1%

Source: Scotia Economics

© The Financial Post

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Economic+sluggishness+affect+Central+Canada+most/3841630/story.html#ixzz15gQJpPdg

More & more interest in working from home or telecommuting

A study put out today by Ipsos Reid said that roughly 75% of respondents believe employers are limiting their candidate pool because they don't offer work-from-home or telecommuting. The study goes on to say that 87% said that they were 'hungry' for technology that allows them to work from home.

Over the past few years Canadian employers have been more accepting of the idea of employees working off site, but there are still concerns over confidentiality and the productivity of unsupervised employees.

Here's an article in full by Derek Abma of Postmedia News.

Canadians want jobs they don't relocate for: survey

Companies would have better luck hiring the people they really want if they were less picky about where they worked, according to poll results released Wednesday.

The survey, done by Ipsos-Reid and commissioned by Microsoft Canada, showed that three-quarters of those asked believe employers limit their hiring options by not offering the choice of working off-site — possibly in a different city.

The poll found about 90 per cent of respondents would rather not relocate for a job, while 87 per cent said they were "hungry" for technology that allows work to be done from any location.

Other findings included 84 per cent saying that location can be a barrier to securing one's ideal job, and 88 per cent agreed that technology should help people avoid the need to relocate for employment.

"Canadian workers have historically been bound by the location of their employer," Kevin Stolarick, research director for the Martin Prosperity Institute, said in a statement issued by Microsoft. "Today though, workers have become upwardly mobile and dispersed across a massive geographical area as the scope of business expands across borders."

Stolarick's organization is a think-tank associated with the University of Toronto's Rotman School of management, which looks into the role geography plays in economic prosperity.

Barbara Jaworski, CEO of the Toronto-based Workplace Institute, an independent consulting group, said she agrees that location should play less of a role in determining whether someone is able to accept a job.

"I totally agree with this survey," she said. "I think more and more people are definitely wanting to have the option of working from wherever they are."

Jaworksi said more flexibility from employers on this matter would be good for employees, who wouldn't have to disrupt their lives and that of their families to take employment in other locations.

She also said it would be positive for employers who would have more candidates to choose from for job openings, and they could potentially see less disruption in their operations from things such as illness when employees are set up to work from home.

Jaworski said private-sector employers have, in recent years, become more open to remote-location employment arrangements, but there is still much resistance in government, where security of information is often cited as a concern.

The online survey of 1,046 Canadians was taken between Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. The results were weighted to reflect the demographic makeup of the country so the results accurately represent the opinions of Canadians.

Read more: http://www.canada.com/Canadians+want+jobs+they+relocate+survey/3844070/story.html#ixzz15aaIeG7O

Are you for sale? Don't be bought (or caught) with a counter-offer!

This is a great article by Bob Weinstein of Troy Media in New York that talks about counter-offers and the dangers of accepting them. If you've ever taken a counter-offer in the past that's hurt you in the long run you can sympathize, but for those of you who have never seen a counter-offer this article is a must-read! Think very carefully about what Weinstein has to say before even considering being bought (or caught) with a counter-offer!

Show me the money! Downside of counteroffers

NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2010/ Troy Media/ – Blame the outrageous and short-lived dot-com era of the late 1990s for making counteroffers a favoured strategy for holding onto valuable employees lured by competitors dangling bigger paychecks.

During that brief, outrageous blip on the technological innovation timeline, money flowed, company loyalty was abandoned and job-hopping was rampant.

Typically, counter-offers are popular during strong economies when job hunters with high-demand skills could name their price. Candidate availability (more jobs than qualified people to fill them) and counteroffers go hand in hand.

Here’s how a counteroffer works. Imagine having a relatively secure job earning decent dollars as a programmer for a small, successful software company. After working there two years, you feel that you’re not moving up the ladder as quickly as you thought you’d be. Friends at competing companies are earning a lot more than you are.

One day, a headhunter calls and says a well-known competitor would like to have you on board and offer you 35 per cent more than you’re earning now.

Money talks

A dazzling offer, the headhunter stresses that the company’s CEO would like to meet with you and talk shop. A meeting ensues and a fantastic offer is made that’s hard to turn down.

What do you do? Heady from the unexpected ego charge, you strut into your boss’ office and tell him you’re considering quitting and taking the job offer. You make it quite clear that a healthy raise is the driving incentive for making the move.

Knowing your value, you were certain that your boss would try and match the sexy job offer. How right you were. Your boss blurts, “We really want you to stay and deem you a valuable asset. I’m prepared to match the job offer and sweeten it with a $10,000 bonus which will be paid in two installments six months apart. How does that sound?”

Now the sucker punch

On the surface, it sounds like a “no brainer” decision. You thank your boss profusely and agree to the counteroffer.

More likely, it was the first time you accepted a counter offer. If streetwise, you would have known that you just put your foot in your mouth and made a disastrous career move – possibly one of the biggest faux pas of your career. Here’s why: For openers, you seriously underestimated your boss.

Counteroffers can be deadly. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize it until too late. Even if the counteroffer is enshrined in unintelligible legalese, there are no guarantees it will be honored.

Think twice before accepting a counteroffer and consider the six downsides:

1. Don’t be surprised if your employer is confidentially looking for a cheaper replacement and will “pull the trigger” at his or her convenience rather than yours. Can you blame him? Everyone – even you – are expendable.

2. Often, promises are made by one person and then countermanded by another.

3. If money is the sole reason for accepting the counteroffer, your credibility is blown.

4. When promotion time comes around, don’t expect to be treated equitably. When management doles out raises and bonuses, you’ll be last on line.

5. If your company encounters hard times and has to cut staff, cutbacks begin with you.

6. Your loyalty will always be in question. No matter how extraordinary you are at your job, your employer will never forget that you were bought.

When counteroffers work

Counteroffers can work, however, when they resolve serious issues between employers and employees and they’re not just about money. Often, managers don’t always realize their employees are unhappy. Money may be just part of the problem. If there is a commitment on the employer’s part to change the situation, the counteroffer can be part of a revised contact, and a positive step towards a new understanding and an improved employer-employee relationship.

Relationships start to go bad when communication between boss and employee ebbs. People leave their jobs more often because they don’t feel valued by their direct supervisor rather than for more money and benefits.

Bob Weinstein can be reached at bob.weinstein@troymedia.com.

Read more: Show me the money! Downside of counteroffers | Troy Media Corporation http://www.troymedia.com/2010/11/06/show-me-the-money-downside-of-counteroffers/#ixzz15Ut9vzZh

Would you take a pay cut to work for a socially responsible company? You're not alone...

A recent study conducted by Algonquin College in Ottawa posed the question; 'Would you take a pay cut to work for a socially responsible company' and the answers were split down the middle leading the college to conclude that half of Canadians would take a pay cut to work for such a company.

Interestingly, only 21% of respondents in the study could actually identify a socially responsible company.

The study also found that 6 out of 10 respondents would pay more for products from a socially responsible company.

Here's an article on the study released by HR Reporter.

Nov 15, 2010

One-half of Canadians would take pay cut for socially responsible company

One-half of Canadians would take a pay cut to work for a socially responsible company, according to a survey of 1,001 people by Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ont.

Eight per cent would take a cut of 10 per cent or more, 15 per cent would take a cut of five per cent to 10 per cent while 28 per cent would take a cut between one per cent and five per cent. Younger Canadians are the most likely to take a pay cut, though the average pay cut people aged 18 to 29 would take to work for a socially responsible company is 5.6 per cent and for those 30 to 39 years old seven per cent.

Only 21 per cent of Canadians could identify a company they believe to be socially responsible and one in three Canadians (31 per cent) rated the job Canadian corporations are doing being socially responsible as either excellent (three per cent) or good (28 per cent). Forty-two per cent said corporations in Canada were neither good nor poor while 16 per cent rated them as poor (13 per cent) or very poor (3 per cent).

"It is clear that businesses need to change the way they are doing things to ensure their continued viability and growth," adds Dave Donaldson, dean of the School of Business at Algonquin College. "Socially responsible organizations make more money, it's as easy as that.”

The survey also found six in 10 Canadians are willing to spend more for products and services from socially responsible companies. On average, Canadians said they would spend $8.62 more on a $100 product or service from a socially responsible company.

Green Issues, Black Clouds

More often than not, Alberta gets criticized about the effect the industry has on the environment. Without a doubt, the oil sands can create some environmental issues. However, rarely does it get thanked for the development it does create. Whether it be within the community, in job development, and by researching ways to decrease their carbon footprint.

What do you think?

By Stephanie Sparks: Alberta Venture Magazine

The environment has always been a complicated issue in Alberta, where residents pride themselves as much on the strength of their industry as they do on the beauty of the natural landscape. It’s been particularly vexing of late, though, as negative publicity about the oil sands, both across the country and around the world, has tarred the entire province with a single dirty brush.

Judging by some of the responses to Alberta Venture’s 2010 Business Conditions Survey, businesses in this province are starting to feel the pinch. For example, when asked if “Alberta’s business interests have been damaged by our global reputation on environmental stewardship,” more than four out of five respondents – 83 per cent, to be precise – agreed. Meanwhile, barely more than half – 58 per cent – agreed that “Alberta’s energy sector is putting sufficient effort into environmental stewardship.”

For Nick Taylor, the president and CEO of Softrock Minerals Ltd., Alberta’s reputation has been years in the making. “Fifty years ago, when I went to university, the whole question was how to rape and pillage Mother Earth,” he recalls. Today, as he witnesses his granddaughter pursue mining engineering, he says her education is about how to leave a green footprint. “It’s a different emphasis and all of us have been a little slow to catch on.”

But slow isn’t how Lucas Mezzano would describe it. Mezzano, the business development manager of the Americas for DYNAenergetics Canada Inc., has seen operations in Latin America, Africa and North America and confidently says that Canada is “light years ahead” of what is being done everywhere else in the world with regards to environmental stewardship. “We should be very proud of where we’re at now,” he says. He doesn’t think much of the environment groups that have targeted Alberta of late, either. “Everybody that complains about the environment and the environmental impact of the oil and gas industry in Alberta or in Western Canada – they just don’t know how it’s done everywhere else in the world.”

Not everyone in Alberta’s business community is satisfied with industry’s stewardship efforts, but for Manasc Isaac Architect’s senior principal Vivian Manasc and partner Shafraaz Kaba, this means opportunities for the energy sector.

“If environmental efforts were seen as opportunities rather than as regulatory constraints to be met with doing the minimum required for compliance,” says Manasc, “there would be an enormous amount that could be done.”

Kaba thinks that opportunity could take centre stage at Expo 2017 if Edmonton is chosen as the host city. “Maybe it’s about being honest and saying, ‘Here’s a problem. Let’s use this forum to talk about a solution,’” suggests Kaba. “The theme is energy – we might as well come up with creative ways to ask for help in determining the course.”

Kaba believes a carbon tax will be imminent if we don’t explore more alternative energy options. “It doesn’t make sense to keep thinking we’re doing as much as we possibly can with carbon capture and storage, whether it’s sequestration or trying to reduce emissions. It’s just swapping where it goes, really. We seriously need to evaluate where our energy is coming from and how that will impact the future, and at some point there will be a carbon tax that will be global in order to address this climate change issue.”

Don Diduck’s company, Environmental Compliance Inc., is focused on originating carbon offsets, but he still sees business interests being harmed by the province’s global reputation even as it tries to develop its own emissions management system.He says environmental interest groups do not fully understand what’s going on in the province. “The resources that would otherwise be going to developing our own solutions now have to go to communicate a message about how well we are doing and are working on environmental stewardship initiatives,” he explains.

Diduck believes that the provincial government has more pressing responsibilities, such as creating a regulatory framework to provide incentives for environmental and clean tech innovations, and should leave it to industry to do their own environmental messaging. Energy companies and associations need to open up and proudly promote the stewardship practices that have decreased pollution levels.

Taylor is confident that industry is starting to do just that. “Shell Oil is always one I’ve had a great deal of respect for,” he says, citing the company’s history of green solutions.

But not all respondents share Taylor’s view that the sector is becoming more proactive. Manasc, for one, believes this is the time for industry to “take the lead rather than wait for regulatory requirements.” ONPA Architects partner Daryl Procinsky agrees. “In the United States, hundreds of companies, hundreds of industries have grown out of the fact that green things happen. Nobody here has really done anything. You haven’t started a green cleaning products company or a green this-or-that. We just don’t. We respond by waiting for the government to respond.”

While our survey’s respondents could not reach a consensus on whether or not the energy sector is doing enough with regards to stewardship, they do want to see the sector lead the conversation. It’s time to start talking.

CMS is Filling New Jobs Across Canada in the Insurance Sector

Check out our Insurance Postings at this link to look at our new insurance jobs. We're looking for multi-lines adjusters, branch managers and specialist accident benefits adjusters all over Canada.

You've you've thought about looking into improving your career, don't wait until it is too late - get in touch with us now.

StatsCan's Labour Force Survey - Two Years Since The Decline

It is recognized that the labour market began its downward spiral in October of 2008 so today's Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada show where we stand exactly two years after the decline began - and the news is good.

While the unemployment rate has stayed pretty consistent over the past few months we have been adding more & more full time positions. The unemployment rate is consistent because more people are now actively looking for work and this is evidenced by the largest demographic to enter the work force - those 55 year old & older.

Workers aged 55 and over have experienced employment growth between October 2008 and October 2010, up 13.5% for women and 10.0% for men. Employment for workers between 25-54 is within 1% of pre-recession levels.

Where are the hot spots? Alberta is leading the way with about 17,000 new jobs in October, followed by PEI with only modest gains.

And construction is certainly a growing industry across almost all of Canada.

The full report is available at The Statistics Canada website or it is enclosed in this Blog Post.

Labour Force Survey

In October, employment remained virtually unchanged for the second consecutive month, as full-time gains offset part-time losses. The unemployment rate edged down to 7.9% and has been around 8% for the past seven months.

Since October 2009, total employment has risen by 375,000 (+2.2%), mostly the result of strength over the first half of 2010, when employment growth averaged 51,000 per month. In the last four months, however, monthly gains have averaged 5,700.

The number of private sector employees increased in October, while self-employment declined. Public sector employment was unchanged.

Full-time employment rose by 47,000 in October, while part-time fell by 44,000. Over the past three months, losses in part time have been offset by full-time gains.

Employment increased among people aged 55 and over, nearly all among women. At the same time, there was an offsetting decline in employment for those aged 25 to 54.

Alberta posted employment gains in October, while Nova Scotia registered a notable loss. There was little change in other provinces.

Losses in retail and wholesale trade were offset by gains in information, culture and recreation; construction; and agriculture. The construction industry continued its upward trend that started in July 2009.

Average hourly wages for employees increased by 2.1% in October compared with 12 months earlier.

Note to readers

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates are based on a sample, and are therefore subject to sampling variability. Estimates for smaller geographic areas or industries will have more variability. For an explanation of sampling variability of estimates, and how to use standard errors to assess this variability, consult the "Data quality" section of the publication Labour Force Information (71-001-X, free).

Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted data, which facilitates comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations.

Additional hiring in the private sector in October

The number of private sector employees increased by 38,000 in October, while self-employment declined by 24,000. At the same time, public sector employment was virtually unchanged.

Over the past year, 337,000 employees have been added to the private sector and 134,000 to the public sector. The number of self-employed has fallen by 96,000 over the same period.

Full-time employment continues to gain

The number of people working full-time continued to rise in October, up 47,000, bringing gains to 164,000 over the past three months. At the same time, the total number of hours worked has edged up.

Part-time employment fell by 44,000 in October, with losses totalling 132,000 over the past three months.

Construction up in October

In October, employment in the goods-producing sector rose by 36,000, led by a gain of 21,000 in construction. Since October 2009, employment in construction has risen by 6.0% (+72,000), one of the fastest growth rates of all major industries.

Within the goods sector, employment also increased in agriculture in October, up 9,000, while it edged up in manufacturing.

The number of workers in the service sector declined by 33,000 in October, with losses concentrated in retail and wholesale trade (-29,000). The only service industry with a notable increase was information, culture and recreation, up 22,000.

More women aged 55 and over employed in October

In October, employment among women aged 55 and over increased by 16,000, while there was little change for men in this age group. At the same time, the number of 25 to 54 year-old workers dipped by 16,000. Youth employment was little changed in October, following a notable decline the previous month.

Between October 2009 and October 2010, the fastest rate of employment growth was among workers aged 55 and over, up 7.7% for men and 7.4% for women.

Over this year-long period, there were also employment gains for men aged 25 to 54, up 117,000 or 1.9%. Among women in this age group, employment grew much slower (+27,000 or +0.5%).

Employment gains in Alberta

Employment in Alberta rose by 17,000 in October, following two months of little change. This increase brings total gains over the past 12 months to 46,000 or 2.3%, slightly above the national growth rate of 2.2%.

Employment also increased in Prince Edward Island in October, up 1,200. Despite this increase, employment in the province remained similar to the level of 12 months earlier.

In Quebec, employment was little changed in October. The unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 8.0%, as more people were looking for work.

While employment in Ontario was also little changed in October, the unemployment rate edged down 0.2 percentage points to 8.6%, the result of fewer men aged 25 and over participating in the labour market.

In Nova Scotia, employment fell by 8,600 in October, following an increase the month before. This decline pushed the unemployment rate in the province up 0.8 percentage points to 9.8%.

Employment in Newfoundland and Labrador declined by 2,300 in October. A decrease in the number of people in the labour force pushed the unemployment rate down to 13.0%, its lowest level since June 2008.

Canada's labour market downturn two years later

Employment in Canada reached a high in the fall of 2008, then declined steeply over a period of nine months. Since the summer of 2009, employment has increased, particularly in the first half of 2010.

Although employment has returned to its pre-recession level of October 2008, the unemployment rate remains around 8%, well above its pre-recession level of 6.2%. Over this two-year period, the working-age population (15 years and over) grew by 2.9%, and the labour force — those working or looking for work — rose by 1.9%.

Across the provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador (+3.1%), Manitoba (+2.9%), Prince Edward Island (+2.3%), Quebec (+1.5%), Saskatchewan (+0.9%) and British Columbia (+0.6%) added employment compared with October 2008, while New Brunswick (-1.8%), Nova Scotia (-1.7%), Alberta (-1.1%) and Ontario (-0.9%) experienced losses.

These provincial differences were partly driven by the industrial composition of the economy. Over the two years, employment in the manufacturing sector dropped 10.8%, with significant declines in Ontario and Alberta. Transportation and warehousing declined by 5.4%, with notable losses in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and New Brunswick. Natural resources remained 2.6% below its October 2008 level, with Quebec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia most affected.

Gains in construction were widespread across the country, as employment in that sector has now returned to its pre-recession level. British Columbia was the only exception, as construction employment dropped 13.6% below its October 2008 level.

Compared with October 2008, employment increased notably in health care and social assistance (+6.7%), as well as in professional, scientific and technical services (+6.7%). All provinces shared in the gains observed in health care and social assistance, but growth was particularly strong in Alberta, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Increases in professional, scientific and technical services occurred mostly in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba.

Employment fell steeply during the downturn for youths (15 to 24) and men aged 25 to 54. In October 2010, employment among youths remained 7.8% below its October 2008 level, while the number of workers aged 25 to 54 was just below its pre-recession level (-1.0% for men and -0.7% for women). Workers aged 55 and over, however, experienced employment growth between October 2008 and October 2010, up 13.5% for women and 10.0% for men.

During the downturn, full-time employment saw large declines, while part-time increased. Although overall employment has returned to its pre-recession level, full-time employment remains 102,000 or 0.7% below its peak, while there are 110,000 (+3.5%) more workers employed part time.

Total hours worked in the labour market fell steeply during the downturn (-3.7%) and have since picked up, increasing by 2.9%. However, unlike total employment, the number of hours worked in October 2010 remained 0.9% below the October 2008 level.

The next release of the Labour Force Survey will be on December 3.

Previous of Canada's Job Report - Looks like we're up by 15,000 new jobs

Here is a preview from Routers on StatsCan's monthly job report for the month of October and while the growth is seen as slowing, it is still certainly growing. Factoring in an additional 15,000 jobs to bring us back to the pre-recession levels is a positive sign all around.

 WHAT: Canadian October employment report

 WHEN: Friday, Nov 5 at 7 a.m. (1100 GMT)

 REUTERS FORECAST:

 ECONCA                    

                    Sept      F'cast range    prior (Aug) 

 Jobs gain/loss     +15K      +5K to +28K    -6.6K  

 Unemployment rate   8.0 pct   7.9-8.1 pct    8.0 pct

 For individual forecasts see: [ID:nECICA]

 FACTORS TO WATCH:

 Slowing pace of growth: Employment has returned to
pre-recession levels but the pace of job creation has slowed
compared with late 2009 and earlier this year. Economists
expect to see more modest labor data in coming months. The
unemployment rate is seen staying stubbornly high as more
people enter the market in search of work, a trend reflected in
a recent report showing consumer confidence on the rise.

 The economy lost jobs in two of the last three months. That
is consistent with the Bank of Canada's view that consumer
spending will be more subdued in coming months, after helping
fuel the fast-paced early stages of the recovery.

 Types of jobs: Beneath the headline numbers, markets are
watching for signs of weakness or strength in the underlying
details on part-time versus full-time positions, public sector
or private sector, and whether jobs are created in high-paying
industries or in low-quality ones like retail.

 Over the past year, part-time job growth has far surpassed
that of full-time work and private-sector employers have lagged
governments in hiring.

 Wages: Wages are on the rise, according to the latest data
for weekly earnings in August. The Bank of Canada closely
watches average hourly wages of permanent employees for any
sign of inflationary pressures. Upward pressure on wages could
make it harder for the central bank to keep its key interest
rate on hold in an environment of very low rates and a
relatively resilient domestic economy that contrasts with the
fragility of the U.S. economy.

 MARKET IMPACT:

 Stronger-than-forecast jobs growth would ease concerns of
slower growth, and support the Canadian dollar, which will also
be sensitive if the U.S. Federal Reserve further eases monetary
policy this week as expected.

 An unexpectedly large decline in hiring would likely
prevent the currency from rising further and support bond
prices as the prospect of another rate hike is pushed further
into the future.

 All of Canada's primary securities dealers forecast the
central bank will stand pat on rates on Dec. 7, according to a
Reuters survey on Oct. 19. Two expected the bank to raise rates
as soon as January but seven said the key rate would still be
at the current 1 percent after March 1. [CA/POLL]

 Markets are pricing in a 95 percent chance of steady rates
in December and almost no chance of a rate hike until the
second half of next year, according to a Reuters calculation of
yields on overnight index swaps. BOCWATCH
(Reporting by Louise Egan; editing by Peter Galloway)


As Seen At http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN019334720101101

Tallying Hurricane Igor's Damage Results In Dollars

The Insurance Bureau of Canada has released statics about the damage of September's storm and it was one of the costliest on record reaching more than $65M in property damage.

It's no surprise then that CMS' expertise in recruiting in the insurance sector has been looked to by our clients to fill more Atlantic Canada roles.

Take a look at our current insurance postings here to view our various roles throughout Atlantic Canada.

Hurricane Igor causes over $65 million in insured damage

Insurers paying thousands of claims in Newfoundland and Labrador

HALIFAX, Nov. 2 /CNW/ - According to preliminary estimates, Hurricane Igor was one of Newfoundland and Labrador's most disastrous storms, with total insured losses of more than $65 million.

The number was reported by Property Claim Services Canada (PCS-Canada), a service that tracks insured losses arising from catastrophic events in Canada. Data collected by PCS-Canada confirms that several thousand claims have been filed in the wake of Hurricane Igor for damage to homes, cars and businesses.

The amount includes damage caused by wind, sewer backup, fallen trees and water entering homes through broken windows, roofs and walls. It does not include overland flooding, which is excluded from home insurance policies in Canada.

"The $65 million estimate in insured losses really drives home the incredible extent of the destruction to homes and property. It's devastating for those who have been affected," said Bill Adams, Vice-President, Atlantic, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). "The insurance industry has been working around the clock to handle claims since Igor struck. Though the process may take more time than usual because of the number of claims, cheques are being issued and the industry will continue to help people recover."

He added, "Many insurance companies brought in extra staff, some from out of province, to start processing claims immediately and to answer questions 24 hours a day. They put adjusters on the road, and some even flew staff in by helicopter if the roads were washed out." Recovery work is ongoing, and if consumers have questions, they are urged to contact their brokers, agents or insurance company representatives.

Employers! What Do Your Gen Y Employees Want?

An article in today's Toronto Star features a survey based on what twenty-somethings want in their jobs. This is a very insightful article because the results of the survey are in contrast to the stereotype of the Echo Boom generation.

It says instead of the casual jeans and endless pizza of the dot-com boom, this generation wants a formal office space (all the way through to cubicles for entry level employees) and a 'no jeans' policy at work.

The study also shows this generations split between a preference for merit based salaries and fixed salaries with regular pay scales.

Here in full is the article from the Toronto Star by Lesley Ciarula Taylor.

Generation Y, stereotyped as demanding, narcissistic and self-entitled, may be more Mad Men’s Don Draper than their bosses realize, a new Canadian survey finds.

The Millennial generation, people roughly 22 to 29, want traditional walls, desks, salaries, pensions and clothes for work, according to Career Edge Organization.

Then again, they also want tuition credits, bonuses, dental care, a prescription drug plan and lots of feedback, the survey found.

“They’re prepared to work hard, but they want to be recognized for that work and know where it will take them,” said Anne Lamont, president of Career Edge, a non-profit national organization involved in internships.

“Overwhelmingly, they want continuous feedback from their manager.”

The dot-com dream of jeans, sneakers, a cellphone, a sofa and endless pizza is not for these Echo Boom kids, raised by boomer parents, the survey found.

A full 82 per cent want a workplace with “a balance of independent and team work;” 34 per cent prefer a “formal office structure with cubicles for entry-level employees” rather than open-concept or hyper-casual offices.

And they’ll dress the part. The survey found that 56 per cent believed “business casual, no jeans” was proper office attire. Only 13 per cent thought jeans were okay.

In exchange, more than half said they wanted the pensions, bonuses and paid vacations their parents and grandparents had.

Thirty-six per cent said they wanted a regular salary based on regular pay scales, while 34 per cent favoured “merit-based pay.”

More than 80 per cent wanted paid health benefits; 72 per cent wanted tuition subsidies for job-related education courses. Another 64 per cent believed an “open-door senior leadership policy” made for a great workplace.

And where does their hyper-wired tech savvy come in? It’s not all that different from Mad Men, although it is online.

Job postings and corporate websites were how 80 per cent of Gen Y job hunters get their information, the survey found. Second most common source, for 61.6 per cent, was family and friends.

Don’t underestimate this generation,” said Lamont. “It’s a two-way street for employers. They can no longer just say ‘marketing analyst’ on a job posting. Gen-Yers want to understand the corporate culture.”

What they don’t want is equally illuminating.

They don’t want a boss who’s their BFF; they want a mentor.

Subsidized meals, health-club memberships, employee gift bonus programs and in-house courses aren’t important. Paid time off to volunteer is, as is the annual organized corporate holiday party.

Unlike Don Draper, though, advertising was only 16th on the top-20 list of the type of jobs Millennials are looking for: Banking was first, followed by the public sector and IT. Engineering ranked Number 20.

Although banking ranked at the top, government jobs appealed, the survey found, because of their compensation, stability, opportunity to make a difference and advance, and work/life balance.

Career Edge surveyed 1,118 Ontarians between 18 and 29 in September.

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/884676--study-what-twentysomethings-want-from-their-jobs