The unemployment rate in Canada was down 0.3 percentage points to 7.9 per cent in the second quarter of 2010. The unemployment rate has now declined 0.7 per cent from the recessionary peak reached one year ago.

Job growth in the second quarter totalled 226,600 positions on a seasonally adjusted* basis. This gain reflects 160,000 additional full-time positions and 66,600 more part-time jobs.

Employment levels are now back to their pre-recession levels, with the current number of people employed in the labour force standing just 2,600 positions below the all-time peak reached in the third quarter of 2008. Since the turnaround, which began one year ago, total employment levels have climbed by 365,000 jobs.

The majority of the hiring in the second quarter of 2010 was in Ontario, where more than 130,000 jobs were added in the service sector. Second quarter job growth was also seen in utilities, construction, trade, transportation and warehousing, the financial sector, public administration, and in scientific, business, healthcare, information, and culture services.

Hiring in these sectors offset layoffs in agriculture, natural resources, manufacturing, education, and in accommodation and food services.

* Seasonal adjustment removes normal seasonal fluctuations.