Year-to-date employment in July 2019 was up over the same period in 2018 in Agriculture (3,157), Manufacturing (2,114), Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (1,414), Professional, scientific and technical services (1,729), Business, building and other support services (1,186), Educational services (1,957), Health care and social assistance (2,771), Information, culture and recreation (957), Accommodation and food services (3,371), and Other services (1,886). 

Year-to-date employment in July 2019 was down in Resource Extraction (-1,457), Utilities (-57), Wholesale and Retail Trade (-3,543), Transportation and warehousing (-2,071), and Public administration (-457).      

The average year-to-date unemployment rate dropped from 6.4% in July 2018 to 5.6% in July 2019. Year-to-date, the average number of unemployed is down from 39,000 in July 2018 to 34,100 in July 2019 with the majority of these being absorbed into the employed labour force.

May 2019 year-to-date retail trade is up by 0.9% over the same period in 2018. Sub sectors that posted increases were Gasoline stations (5.5%), Furniture and home furnishings stores (1.9%), Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (1.2%), Health and personal care stores (2.0%), Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (1.8%), Grocery stores (4.5%), Beer, wine and liquor stores (0.5%), and General merchandise stores (1.9%). During the same time period, New car dealers (-4.7%), Electronics and appliance stores (-34.1%), Clothing and clothing accessories stores (-3.5%), and All other (-11.4%) posted declines.

May 2019 year-to-date new motor vehicle sales were down -1.3% from May year-to-date 2018. New minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses sales were up 1.0%, while New passenger cars sales were down -14.1%. 

May 2019 year-to-date wholesale trade was up 8.4% over the same period in 2018. Building material and supplies merchant wholesalers (1.3%) posted an increase while Farm product merchant wholesalers (-6.7%), Food, beverage and tobacco merchant wholesalers (-6.1%), and Machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers (-3.1%) saw declines.

May 2019 year-to-date restaurant receipts were up 3.3% over the same period in 2018. Within restaurant receipts, Full-service restaurants (4.0%) and Limited-service eating places (5.2%) increased. At the same time, declines were noted in Special food services (-6.8%) and Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) (-10.5%).         

Sub sectors that posted increases were: Metal ores and non-metallic minerals (26.0%), Basic and industrial chemical, plastic and rubber products (30.2%), Industrial machinery, equipment and parts (9.8%), Motor vehicles and parts (13.8%), Aircraft and other transportation equipment and parts (415.9%), Consumer goods (31.6%), and Special transactions (6.1%).

Sub sectors that posted decreases were: Farm, fishing and intermediate food products (-0.8%), Energy products (-14.0%), Metal and non-metallic mineral products (-2.7%), Forestry products and building and packaging materials (-22.0%), and Electronic and electrical equipment and parts (-24.9%).

Construction employment continued to decline in 2018 and into the first 7 months of 2019. With weak housing and residential building permit activity, year-to-date July construction employment is down by 2,014 positions or 4.2% from the same period in 2018.

July 2019, total year-to-date housing starts are down by -712 units or -42.7% as the market continues to struggle with over-supply and tighter borrowing rules. Year-to-date declines were noted in singles (-194 units or -27.6%), semi-detached (-15 units or -15.0%), row (-65 units or -33.2%), and apartment and other types (-438 units or -65.3%).

June 2019 year-to-date building permits are down -2.4% over the same period in 2018.   Sub sectors that posted increases were: Industrial (6.6%) and commercial (32.3%). During the same time period, residential (-23.4%) and institutional and governmental (-21.4%) posted declines.

Year-to-date employment in July 2019 was up 4.7% over the same period in 2018 in Information, culture and recreation.

2019 Q2 Provincial population was up 0.9% over 2018 Q2 to 1,169,131 on the strength of international in-migration. This can be expected to continue throughout the rest of 2019 with a surging labour market.

May 2019 year to date manufacturing sales are down by -5.6% over the same period in 2018.

Sub sectors that posted increases were: Food manufacturing sales (5.5%), and Fabricated metal product manufacturing sales (37.6%).

Sub sectors that posted decreases were: Chemical manufacturing sales (-28.4%), Machinery manufacturing sales (-5.1%), and All other Manufacturing sales (-2.3%).