Canadian Tourism Employment Monthly Snapshot – March 2019

(seasonally unadjusted)

In March 2019, the unemployment rate¹ in the tourism sector was at 6.0%, which is 0.4% lower than the rate reported in March 2018, and higher than the previous month (February 2019), when the unemployment rate stood at 4.9%.

At 6.0%, tourism’s unemployment rate was below Canada’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 6.2%.

With the exception of the Food & Beverage Services industry, all tourism industry groups reported lower unemployment rates than the same month last year (Table 1).

On a provincial basis, tourism unemployment rates ranged from 3.2% in British Columbia to 13.6% in Prince Edward Island.

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates for tourism in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Alberta, and British Columbia were below the rates reported for the provincial economy (Figure 1).

Tourism employment comprised 10.9% of the total Canadian labour force for the month of March.

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**Table 1 – Employment Rate by Tourism Industry Group – March 2018/2019**
Tourism Industry Group²	Unemployment Rate – March 2018	Unemployment Rate – March 2019
Tourism	6.4%	6.0%
Accommodations	11.3%	8.4%
Food and Beverage	5.4%	6.2%
Recreation and Entertainment	8.8%	7.7%
Transportation	3.6%	2.8%
Travel Services	6.0%	N/A

Figure 1 – Tourism Sector vs. Total Labour Force Unemployment Rates by Province (Seasonally Unadjusted)

1 To determine unemployment rates, industrial (NAICS) classifications are based on the most recent job held within the past year, and are self-identified by the respondent. Unemployed persons are those who, during the reference period, were available for work but were on temporary layoff, were without work, or were to start a new job within four weeks.

2 As defined by the Canadian Tourism Satellite Account. The NAICS industries included in the tourism sector are those that would cease to exist or operate at a significantly reduced level of activity as a direct result of an absence of tourism. Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, customized tabulations. Based on data for the week ending March 16, 2019.

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