Employment rates in Toronto held steady for a second consecutive month in August according to Statistics Canada with the employment rate declining by 0.3% to 67%. Across Canada, on a year-over-year basis, average hourly wages rose 4.9% (+$1.56 to $33.47) in August, following an increase of 5.0% in July. Total hours worked were up by 0.5% in August and by 2.6% on a year-over-year basis.
Employment Continues to Show Strength
Toronto’s labour market continued to show signs of resilience and strength during July. Toronto’s rate of unemployment remained stable as it rose slightly to 6.1 percent. The participation rate (those working or actively looking for work) remained at 68 percent, well above pre-pandemic levels. Economists note that an increase in the number of people participating in the labour force has positive impact on the overall economy.
Explore the Exciting Career Opportunities in the Self Storage Industry
The self-storage industry in Ontario specifically has experienced significant growth over the past few years. In 2023, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) found that there were 37.3 million square feet of self-storage in Ontario, which grew by 9% in the last three years with 4.2 million square feet added.
Beyond Disabilities: Addressing Workforce Shortages & Poverty Alleviation
This week Statistics Canada released their 2019 Earnings pay gap among persons with and without disabilities, 2019 (statcan.gc.ca) and earlier this week, Bill C-22, the Canadian Disability Benefit received royal asset and was passed into law. What’s the change about…
Organizational Success: The Role of Organizational Needs Assessments in Bridging Workplace Gaps & Identifying Workforce Strengths
In the year 2022-2023, Metro Toronto Movement for literacy developed and piloted Organizational Needs Assessments (ONA) to pave the way for workplace literacy pilots in 2023-2024. Organizational needs assessments are important for employers to ensure the alignment of their workforce…
Beyond the Buzz: Reflecting on the Great Resignation that Wasn’t
People have an innate compulsion to categorize, to make sense of chaos and confusion, and to right their place in the world. Labels give us a sense of order and often provide the media with a simple way of describing what is going on – whether in pop culture, politics or even our complicated labour markets.
The Lipstick & Underwear Indexes: Exploring the Contradiction of Retail Closures and Increased
Recent headlines about retail stores closing across the country seem to paint a grim picture for the industry, but the reality is more complex when considering the simultaneous increase in retail job postings. While it’s true that many brick-and-mortar retailers…
Fear of A.I is really fear of the unknown: Keeping an open mind about the future of work
There is a debate afoot about technology and the risk that innovation poses to the workforce. This debate is nothing new. It’s a debate that has been spurred countless times throughout the course of human history. At the heart of…
Toronto Labour Market Information (LMI) and Adult Literacy Programs (LBS)
LMI refers to data, statistics, and insights about the conditions and dynamics of the labor market, including employment trends, job vacancies, wages, unemployment rates, workforce demographics, skills requirements, and other relevant factors that influence the supply and demand of labor. It provides a snapshot of the current state of the labor market, as well as insights into past trends and future occupational projections, which can be useful for understanding the changing nature of work, identifying emerging job opportunities, and addressing skills gaps and labor market imbalances.
ECE & Labor Market Shifts: Parent Essentials
As licensed childcare has become more affordable, more families are now showing interest in enrolling their child in daycare. Some experts have raised concerns that there won’t be enough workers to staff the new spaces.