NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The Northwest Territories employment rate in July rose 0.7 per cent, meaning that 23,100 people were employed in the territories last month.

William Alger of Fort Simpson works on his design project during a regional Skills Canada competition in Hay River in 2015. Between June and July, the employment rate increased by 3.4 per cent for youths aged 15 to 24 and changed little for those 25 and older, states a Statistics Canada report. - NNSL file photo

July's rate was the highest rate since 2013.

In a report released this month, Statistics Canada states the July 70.9 per cent employment rate was the second highest in Canada. Since July 2015, employment has increased by 2.7 per cent or 600 persons.

The increase in employment reflects the peak of the seasonal summer employment said NWT Bureau of Statistics economic statistician Jeff Barichello.

"What you do see in the summertime is that employment increases and that's because firefighters are starting their seasonal work and summer students are also starting their work," Barichello said. "And then, after the summer months, you start to see it decrease."

Between June and July, the employment rate increased by 3.4 per cent for youths aged 15 to 24 and changed little for those 25 and older, the report states.

Over the same period, the employment rate rose by 2.5 per cent for males and declined by 1.9 per cent for females.

Compared to July 2015, much of the job growth was in the public sector and the service producing industries.

Barichello explained that generally statisticians in the NWT look at the employment rate instead of the unemployment rate because it provides a bigger picture of the employment situation in the territories.

"The unemployment rate might not give you the full picture of the labour market situation because there could be people not looking for work because they know there are no jobs," he said.

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