Ottawa, ON – Garnett Genuis, Conservative Shadow Minister for Employment, issued the following statement on employment dropping for the second consecutive month:
“Just before Canadians gather for Thanksgiving, today’s Labour Force Survey reported a loss of 68,000 jobs in September and an unemployment rate of 6.5%. This follows another 42,000 jobs lost in August, bringing the total to 110,000 over two months.
“But today’s job numbers show more than just a concerning trend in unemployment. Canada’s labour market participation fell to 64.8%, the lowest since 1997 outside the pandemic. This means that a smaller share of Canadians are working or looking for work than at almost any point in nearly three decades.
“More than just a loss of jobs, this speaks to a loss of hope. It is harder to find work than it has been in a long time.
“Unemployed Canadians are also having a harder time finding work than they did before the pandemic. The job-finding rate is down to 30.6%, well below the pre-pandemic average of 36.5%.
“In terms of job losses, Quebec in particular suffered a massive blow, with another 49,000 jobs lost in September, and 130,000 jobs since January. Meanwhile, youth unemployment jumped up to 13%.
“September’s job losses are the latest warning sign of an economy that is struggling under failing Liberal policies. Canadians are facing higher costs of living, weak productivity growth and greater uncertainty about job opportunities.
“Canadian workers need results now. Conservatives have proposed an Economic Action Plan focused on unblocking resources, scrapping taxes on fuel and reinvestments here at home, removing red tape, and making Canada the best place in the world to hire and boost pay.
“Canadians deserve an economy where hard work is rewarded, where opportunities are available and where everyone who wants to contribute has a fair shot at getting ahead.”