FREDERICTON – New Brunswick’s unemployment rate went down in May, but so did the workforce.
The rate went from 9.9 per cent in April to 9.6 per cent in May.
According to Statistics Canada’s labour force survey, there were 2,800 fewer people employed in New Brunswick in May.
On a year-over-year basis, employment in the province was unchanged.
The province’s workforce decreased by 4,600 people and there were 5,300 fewer full-time jobs.
On the upside, there were 2,500 more part-time jobs in May.
Premier Brian Gallant said he’s encouraged by the lower unemployment rate, but that the numbers we’re seeing are because of the province’s population trends.
“I think it’s important to recognize that we have an aging demographic,” he said. “And there’s no doubt that we have people coming from the west.”
When asked how his government is trying to combat the shrinking labour force, Gallant said they’re working on strategies to address the aging demographic.
“One of the ways we want to do that is ensure that some of the people that are coming back from the west are going to have jobs waiting for them here,” he said.
Right now, there are over 3,400 jobs available according to the province’s job search website.
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