June Labour Force Survey

Employment rose by 93,000 in June, pushing the unemployment rate down 0.2 percentage points to 7.9%. This is the first time the rate has been below the 8% mark since January 2009. Employment has been on an upward trend since July 2009, increasing by 403,000 (+2.4%). These gains offset nearly all the employment losses observed during the labour market downturn which began in the fall of 2008. In the goods-producing sector, employment in construction edged up 11,000. This industry has had the fastest growth rate of all major industry groups since July 2009 (+8.3% or +94,000). Read more

Conference Board of Canada: Canada Facing Labour Shortages

Immigrants can help to rescue Canada from a long-term slowdown in economic growth, but only if immigration policies are modernized, says the Conference Board of Canada. “The recession gave employers only temporary relief from workforce shortages. Job creation has resumed in recent months, and the looming retirement of baby boomers will only erode the labour supply in the longer term,” said Glen Hodgson, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist. “Immigration can provide an important source of labour, if done right.” Read more

Canada’s construction starts make solid gains in first half of 2010

The pattern of CanaData’s construction starts (+77% in square footage and +66% in dollar volume) through the first half of this year has been fairly predictable. The big winners have been institutional and engineering work, thanks to government funding. Commercial work has been relatively flat and industrial starts have been in steep decline. Residential has exhibited surprising strength. Read more

AGC says construction employment in U.S. has fallen to 14-year low

Seasonally adjusted construction industry employment in the United States slipped in June to the lowest total since July 1996 while the industry's unemployment rate remained at 20.1 percent, more than double the average for all workers, according to analysis of new federal figures by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America. Read more

Annual Conference and Exhibition and Exhibition of the Transportation Association of Canada

The 2010 TAC conference and exhibition is being held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 26-29. The theme selected for the event is Adjusting to New Realities. More than 900 representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as from academic circles, will assemble in Halifax in September for the country’s premier annual transportation event. Both seasoned professionals and newer faces will be there to punch up their knowledge and skills. Visit www.tac-atc.ca for more information or to register.