Only fools believe the Conservatives are stewards of the economy

Updated

Canadian workforce at lowest level in 14 years in 2014

Just 121,000 more Canadians found jobs in 2014 and the number of people in the workforce has fallen to the lowest level in 14 years, according to Statistics Canada.

That’s because the growth in the number of Canadians of working age, which rose 1.1 per cent, outstripped the growth of jobs in the economy, which grew by 0.7 per cent.

The labour participation rate, a key measure of whether Canadians are working or looking for work, fell 0.6 percentage points to 65.7 per cent in December 2014 — the lowest since 2000.

Part of the decline is due to an aging population, as Canadians over 55 are less likely to participate in the workforce.

But a low labour participation rate also indicates many Canadians have lost confidence they can find work. Youth unemployment remains stubbornly high.

READ MORE: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canadian-workforce-at-lowest-level-in-14-years-in-2014-1.2934616