The Latest Release of the Canadian Labour Force Survey

Released on Friday January 8^th 2010, the results for the end of the year 2009 came out, and it appears despite a banner month in November, some provinces saw a decline and across the board unemployment and employment remained flat, remaining at 8.5%. In the last nine months, employment has stabilized but remains 323,000 (-1.9%) below the October 2008 peak.

The largest declines were in transportation and warehousing; business, building and other support services; and public administration.

As one would predict, the number of self employed is increasing, and from our experience in 1980/81 and in 1990/91, we will see a large number of self employed people in 2010/11.

There was a decrease in public sector employment in December, while the number of self-employed workers was up and the number of private sector employees was unchanged. Since the employment peak of October 2008, the number of self-employed increased. However, the number of people working as employees fell, especially in the private sector, where signs of stabilization have only emerged recently.

So what does this mean to you?

Typically you go through at least 11 jobs in your life, some more. Your likely going to be working a different job in 4 years from now, but the job you have is the one you have. You will make more money and your life will get better from either:

-          Finding a higher paying job (which may involve getting educated and switching industries)

-          Find a business opportunity or self-employed job that you can sink your teeth in

-          Buying into an existing company or franchise and becoming self-employed (maybe employ some of those unemployed youth out there with their first jobs)

-          Fins a small side job to make extra money, be creative, and be frugal

How can you do this if you’re struggling for funds?

-          Government Small Business and Youth Business Funds

-          Loans From Friends and Family (Which you should document, www.documentyourloan.com)

-          Bring on a partner for your idea with capital

-          Get educational loans and or funds for changing vocation

-          Possibly your company will put funds towards education if retrenchment is near, at least they get tax write-offs

-          Find a business that takes little capital to start but you can begin and get cashflow with a few friends and family contacts or old contacts from past work and business you have done

Go to the people who believe in you, past employers, past business partners, friends, family, someone you gave advice to that worked, and work on your relationship with them first to either gain investment or a loan… or possibly supply them a service or business offering you have. It’s one of the first steps, but if you make a loan, make sure its documented. (www.documentyourloan.com)