City's jobless rate holds at 5.7%
(excerpts from article published in the Daily Gleaner, December 04/10)
Fredericton's unemployment rate in November held steady at 5.7 per cent for the third month in a row, says Statistics Canada. The capital also continues to have the lowest unemployment rate of New Brunswick's big three cities, according to the Statistics Canada labour survey for November released Friday. Fredericton's unemployment rate this year peaked in August at 5.9 per cent.

"I'm not surprised to see that it stayed stable at the same rate it has been through the fall," said Susan Holt, CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. "What we are feeling from members of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is a bit of a wait-and-see feeling still." She said there's optimism in the business community that is leading to some hiring.

"But there is also some consideration of what may be in the budget as we hear about program cuts and funding cuts from the provincial team," said Holt. "There is a sense that we want to see what is coming in the new year."
Saint John's unemployment rate for November was seven per cent, down from 7.8 per cent in October, said Statistics Canada.

Moncton's unemployment rate was also seven per cent, up from 6.9 per cent in October. New Brunswick's unemployment rate rose to 10.3 per cent from 9.8 per cent in October, which is also up 1.6 per cent from the same month last year.

Full-time employment in New Brunswick fell to 304,400 jobs from 306,700 jobs in October, said Statistics Canada. Part-time employment in the province rose to 57,300 jobs in November, compared to 55,500 jobs in October.

Holt said it doesn't go unnoticed that the provincial unemployment rate is increasing even though that impact isn't felt in Fredericton. "We don't take it lightly when there are people in our province who are unemployed," she said.

"I trust that a number of smart people are thinking about how we deal with the facts that some of my members can't find the folks they need while some New Brunswickers can't find the work they need. We hope to make progress on that kind of a skills-matching problem in the future."
Canada's unemployment rate fell to 7.6 per cent in November.

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