Canadian Tourism Employment Monthly Snapshot

(seasonally unadjusted)

In January 2020, the unemployment rate¹ in the tourism sector was at 5.7%, which is 0.8 percentage points higher than the rate reported in January 2019, and higher than the previous month (December 2019), when the unemployment rate stood at 4.6%.

At 5.7%, tourism’s unemployment rate was just below Canada’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate of 5.8%.

Of the tourism industry groups, Food & Beverage Services, Recreation and Entertainment, and Transportation reported equal or higher unemployment rates than the same month last year (Table 1).

On a provincial basis, tourism unemployment rates ranged from 2.8% in Manitoba to 18.3% in Prince Edward Island.

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates for tourism in each province, with the exceptions of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and British Columbia, were below the rates reported for the provincial economy (Figure 1).

Tourism employment comprised 10.8% of the total Canadian labour force for the month of January.

**Table 1 – Employment Rate by Tourism Industry Group – January 2019/2020**
Tourism Industry Group²	Unemployment Rate – January 2019	Unemployment Rate – January 2020
Tourism	4.9%	5.7%
Accommodations	9.6%	7.2%
Food and Beverage	4.6%	6.3%
Recreation and Entertainment	6.9%	6.9%
Transportation	1.8%	2.8%
Travel Services	N/A	N/A

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

See interactive charts

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 January 18, 2020.