Sinking job numbers further proof of Conservative economic mismanagement

In April, the labour market shrank by 29,000 jobs

The loss of 29,000 full-time jobs in April is further proof that the Conservative government’s approach is damaging our economy.

“Under Stephen Harper’s watch, unemployment has grown by nearly 300,000 – and youth unemployment is unacceptably high at 13.4%. The Conservative government must stop its self-congratulatory boasting and start acting before it is too late,” said NDP Finance critic Nathan Cullen (Skeena—Bulkley Valley).

Statistics Canada’s latest labour market report revealed that 29,000 Canadians lost their jobs in April, all full-time positions. Today’s report also noted there has been “little overall employment growth since August 2013” and the situation is particularly bad in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.

“We see a very disturbing trend in today’s number, good full-time jobs are disappearing and being replaced by part-time jobs,” added NDP Deputy Finance critic, Guy Caron (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques). “The situation is so bad that over 25,000 workers dropped out of the labour force altogether – and too many young people are giving up on finding paid work and just taking whatever they can get.”

The NDP believes we should act now on things like a small business hiring tax credit and measures to make life more affordable. Failure to act will only make this situation even worse.