Canada Posts Positive Jobs Rate of 6.8%

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 10, 2017) - The January unemployment of 6.8 per cent is an encouraging step in the right direction, but public policy makers need to focus on the stubborn labour force participation rate says Bob Funk, CEO and chairman of the board for Express Employment Professionals.

"The positive Canadian jobs report reflects the increasing optimism we see on the ground, and that's encouraging news," Funk said. "The stubborn labour force participation rate remains a concern. It continues to be flat lined and we cannot be satisfied with so many people out of the workforce."

The January 2017 Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey shows the labour force participation rate at 65.9 per cent, up slightly from 65.8 per cent in December.

While Canada's labour force participation rate has generally performed better than most other major industrialized countries, such as the United States, it has been largely stagnant and trending negative during the past 10 years.

"This poor direction cannot be explained solely by changing demographics. It is also a sign that a significant number of working-age Canadians have become discouraged and given up searching for paid work," Funk said. "We see unwillingness among the unemployed to accept the jobs or get trained to do the jobs that are available."

To view the graphic associated with this release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/StatsCan_Jobs_Report_Feb10.pdf

If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bob Funk, please contact Kellie Major at (613) 222-7488.

About Robert A. Funk

Robert A. "Bob" Funk is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Under his leadership, Express has put more than 6 million people to work worldwide. Funk served as the Chairman of the Conference of Chairmen of the Federal Reserve and was also the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

About Express Employment Professionals and Express in Canada

Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $3.05 billion in sales and employed nearly 510,000 people in 2016. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. Express launched in Canada in July 1996, with a franchise in London, Ontario, and since then, has expanded and grown across Canada significantly. There are currently 37 Express franchises in Canada - six in British Columbia, five in Alberta, two in Saskatchewan, 23 in Ontario, and one in Nova Scotia.