More Jobs, Higher Wages

Jobs are up in Ontario

Last month we added 15,600 full-time jobs, marking the lowest unemployment in our province since 1989.

Ontario’s job market is changing rapidly, and our government is taking steps to ensure Ontarians have the skills & training required for better jobs, brighter futures and a stronger Ontario.

Quick Facts

·       In February, employment in Ontario edged up by 15,600 (+0.2%), after a net gain of 62,800 (+0.8%) in January.  The unemployment rate in February fell to 5.1%, the lowest rate since October 1989 (4.7%).  

·       All of the job gains in February were in full-time positions (+28,900 or +0.4%).  Part-time positions decreased by 13,300 (-1.0%).

·       February’s job gains were concentrated in the private sector (+34,000 or +0.6%). Public-sector employment decreased by 2,600 (-0.2%).  Self-employment fell by 15,900 (-1.4%) in February and continued to remain below its pre-COVID level (-57,800 or -5.1%).

·       The number of unemployed individuals decreased in February (-3,000 or -0.7%), and Ontario’s unemployment rate declined to 5.1% in February from 5.2% in January.

·       Ontario’s labour force (individuals employed and unemployed) increased by 12,600 (or +0.2%) in February and the participation rate remained at 65.5%. 

·       In February, average hourly wages in Ontario were $34.00, up 4.8% (+$1.57) compared to a year ago.  This increase was above the growth observed in January (+3.6% or +$1.19), following two consecutive months with a slowdown in year-over-year wage growth.  However, Ontario’s increase was below Canada’s average hourly wage growth of 5.4% (+$1.69) over the same period.