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For additional information relating to this article, please contact:

Thomas StorringDirector – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410Email: thomas.storring@novascotia.ca

May 07, 2021
US EMPLOYMENT, APRIL 2021

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that US non-farm payroll employment increased 266,000 from March 2021 to April 2021. US employment fell by 22.4 million in March and April 2020 combined. The improvements in US labour market continued to reflect the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April 2021, employment increased the most in leisure and hospitality, other services, and local government education. Employment in temporary help services and couriers and messengers declined in April 2021. Nonfarm employment in April 2021 was 5.4% (8.2 million) below its February 2020 level.

US unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 6.1% in April 2021, the unemployment rate is 8.7 percentage points lower than recent high in April 2020. US unemployment was 9.8 million in April 2021. The US unemployment rate remains 2.6 percentage points higher and the number of unemployed persons increased by 4.1 million compared to February 2020. 

US participation rate edged up 0.2 percentage point to 61.7% of the working age population in April 2021, this is 1.6 percentage points below its February 2020 level.

US employment to population ratio edged up 0.1 percentage points to 57.9% in April 2021 but is 3.2 percentage points lower than its February 2020 level.

 

Note: Canadian and US labour force statistics refer to different working-age cohorts.

 

Sources:

US Bureau of Labor Statistics news releaseCommissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation

Statistics Canada.  Table  14-10-0287-01   Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle



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