EMPLOYMENT IN RURAL AND SMALL TOWN CANADA: AN UPDATE TO 2000

♦ Rural and small town areas of the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec have lower employment rates and higher unemployment rates than the rural and small town Canadian average. The reverse is true in the Western Provinces and Ontario. However, this geographic discrepancy appears to be lessening. ♦ Female youth in rural and small town areas have appreciably lower labour force participation rates and lower employment rates than female youth in larger urban centres and the male youth populations. ♦ Rural and small town female youth have lower unemployment rates than male youth in both rural and small town areas and larger urban centres. ♦ There is a growing share of employment in rural and small town areas in Manufacturing; Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; and Management of Companies and Administrative and Other Support services. ♦ Relative to Canada as a whole, the rural and small town areas are increasing their employment intensity (as measured by location quotients) in Transportation and Warehousing and in Management of Companies and Administrative and Other Support services.