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2010-02-05 at 11:37

Unemployment rate drops

By tbnewswatch.com
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The unemployment rate in Thunder Bay is smaller than the national average.

Statistics Canada numbers show that the local rate rested at 7.6 per cent in January, down from December's 8.1 per cent. That puts the city ahead of the rest of the country, which remains at 8.3 per cent.

The national rate dropped slightly from last month's 8.4 per cent. A stronger-than expected 43,000 jobs in January, which was led by mostly part-time work, gives this country its fourth employment gain in half-a-year.

An estimated 41,500 new positions across the Canada are part time. Full-time employment rose modestly by about 1,400 positions. Statistics Canada officials add that full-time employment has been on the rise over the past six months.

The private sector recorded job growth, while the self-employment sector saw a decline of about 24,000 jobs.

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Comments

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eddylives says:
Too bad these rates do not reflect the true rate of un-employment in our city and the rest of Canada......
I wonder what the real figures are in the city and country??
Thumbs down to the typical deception methods used by the government to mask real figures and true facts......
2/5/2010 11:48:56 AM
Rick says:
Contrary to popular opinion, numbers do lie.
I serously doubt that Thunder Bay is ahead of the rest of the country.

More smoke and mirrors in the hope that we will all move on to another hot topic, this number is a great means of diversion for a lot of people.
2/5/2010 12:33:05 PM
observer says:
Poppycock!!!! These figures do not include those that no longer have EI benefits. After the forestry industry dying, many have now lost their benefits and are no longer counted.
What do they think we are? Stupid!!!!!
2/5/2010 1:19:45 PM
panzerIV says:
I would like to see more information given by these types of stats. Like:

Ages group differential
Wage difference: (example gaining 100 McDonald's jobs and losing 30 bowater jobs)
And number, that's nice that it says we are now at 7.6 % but how many jobs were gained more information would be nice. Maybe there actually was lots of jobs gained and thats super but this lack of information leaves a big smoke screen that is hard to see through.
2/5/2010 1:26:34 PM
tsb says:
Just because the government doesn't shove everything in your face doesn't mean they're hiding things. Participation is at 63.4%, down from 63.8%; Unemployment is at 7.6%, down from 8.1%; Employment is at 58.5%, down from 58.7%. Between December and January, 200 people lost their jobs and 300 people stopped looking for one. According to Wikipedia's out of date information, this is up very slightly from last February.
2/5/2010 1:42:08 PM
eddylives says:
tsb.....
Most would say different.
This is just another way that the government manipulates the numbers to hide the true levels.
As stated ,once you are no longer participating in EI. you are no longer put into the calculations of un-employment.
Or if you do not have enough hours to start a claim you are not included.....
So now that this happens they can artificially calculate the rate at a lower level which is just wrong.
These people that have ended/not started their EI claims are still un-employed.
YOUR own post states "participation" levels which translates to "you dont exist so you dont matter anymore" and the true level is false.
There is a great flaw in this system that allows this kind of false information to be presented to the public and set the guidelines for the EI system requirements.
This is their way to try and hide the truth from us.......


2/5/2010 2:50:35 PM
tbay87 says:
observer and eddylives, the unemployment rate has nothing to do with EI coverge. It is true that people who have just "given up" aren't counted, but EI running out has nothing to do with it. EI claims is a separate statistic. The government's own site says it is determined using sampling techniques.

and Rick, why would a federal agency fudge numbers in favour of Thunder Bay? If the figures came from the mayor's office, I may agree, but it doesn't make sense from a federal agency to use smoke and mirrors in our favour. We can debate the methods used for determining the unemployment rate forever, but not everything is a conspiracy.

panzerIV, I agree completely. I don't think there is any conspiracy, but it would be nice to get a bit more depth for the numbers. Some updates such as median income would be more useful.
2/5/2010 4:42:33 PM
eddylives says:
The rate of unemployment is determined by the number of people collecting EI.
Now that I am unemployed and my EI claim ran out I am no longer included in the calculations.
So the rate they calculate is false.
The true rate is higher.
The unemployment rate determins the hours required to start a new claim.

The true rate has to include everyone that has not found employment as well as those collecting EI.

When I have spoke directly to government officials they stated once you are not on EI you are no longer included in the calculations.

How is this going to show the true unemployment rate?
Its not and the true rates will never be known.
2/5/2010 5:30:56 PM
The Beaver.... says:
Heee come on ..this is so simple even Lynn could figure it out.Most of th Unemployed left and went elswhere...presto we got it right.So now what are we going to do..but have no fear the City will hire some more this year and the rate will go down some more who cares if the Taxes go up
2/5/2010 5:31:50 PM
laidoffmillguy says:
I worked in forestry and tried to get decent work but could not, so I went back to school....I seen that there are alot of people re-training like me. The numbers of the unemployed(released by statistics canada) in Thunder bay are nothing but lies. Just ask the Ministry of colleges training and university about the 800% increase in enrolement and ask Ontario works about the increase in welfare cases. I find it funny that this Tbnewswatch site just released a article on the current job market.... .........So if the job market is cold then why did our unemployement go down?? Makes ya wonder.
2/5/2010 6:39:50 PM
tbay87 says:
eddylives, I don't know what "government officials" you are referring to, but your stating what you claim to be facts, do you have an actual source you can post?

If you'd prefer to know the truth, it's all listed in the government's monthly labour report, here's a link to the relevant section of this month's report:

Not a thing in there about unemployment insurance, it is quite clear how they calculate the rate. You may not agree with the way they calculate it either, and that's fine, but it's best to have your facts straight.
2/5/2010 9:34:11 PM
Gord says:
Observer - I think you answered your own question through your comment.... in case you dont quite understand that, which is likely, the simple response is yes, we do.
2/5/2010 9:46:57 PM
The Beaver.... says:
eddylives...its called Magic or Woo-do politics
it also shows you how little help you get from a plan that you paid into.However if you are a refuge to Canada you can get paid forever.You cant Vote you don't pay taxes but you can get paid...ironic isn't it
2/6/2010 1:42:11 AM
this is your life says:
The unemployment rate does not take into account those who are no longer in receipt of EI benefits nor does it include underemployed workers in part-time positions that are seeking full-time employment.
2/6/2010 8:56:59 AM
tannharr says:
eddylives, The Beaver, Rick, and anyone else...........ever think that the smoke is maybe only in your eyes? You seem to think that all government is corrupt, and they falsify statistics. Stats Canada is definately not one of them! If they did, why would they boost Thunder Bay's image, but not a city such as Windsor, whose unemployment actually rose in this time frame to a whopping 12.8%. So, I ask you, why post stats in favour of Thunder Bay, and not other job markets.

I don't believe that these stats are based on EI, as any statician would know it's not an accurate method of calculating the true unemployment rate. I'm sure they have their logical ways, but that's what they're educated in, so leave it to the professionals.
2/6/2010 9:12:30 AM
thebard says:
Thanks TSB for the info.

All in all I think we are in much better shape than most places in Canada. We are so much less dependant on private sector jobs. We have become a little Ottawa. And Ottawa never has a recession. It is not in Dalton's DNA to cut spending so we are laughing. Get a government job.
2/6/2010 10:51:14 AM
The Beaver.... says:
Tannharr...nobody said that Government is Corrupt I only said that government is very self serving,and pays absolutely no attention to the people.Also i like to submit that by not counting the real unemployed the Government is pulling the wool over your Eyes...no need to do that to mine..and Ricks and Eddylives.As you said we got smoke in our Eyes.
2/6/2010 12:04:28 PM
tsb says:
The participation rate is the percentage of the workforce that is working or looking for work. The 42% that isn't working includes people whose IE claims have run out, people who are disabled and not working, students over the age of 15 who are not working, people under the age of 65 who are not working, and so on. That is why the number is so low. Just because statistics don't conform to your opinion doesn't mean they're wrong, and just because statistics conform to you opinion doesn't mean they're right. The monthly unemployment stats are an ESTIMATE, based on information they have available at the time. To find the "true" unemployment rate would require asking about the employment status of all 25 million people in Canada between 15 and 65 every month. Do you want to pay for that?
2/6/2010 2:42:14 PM
this is your life says:
The unemployment rate does not take into account those who are no longer in receipt of EI benefits nor does it include underemployed workers in part-time positions that are seeking full-time employment.
2/6/2010 6:19:21 PM
eddylives says:
If I tried to calculate my income tax using their methods I would end up in jail.......
2/7/2010 9:20:19 PM
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