bodgerx

Not sure how the Canada jobless are counted, but the figures supplied by the UK government count only those actually claiming benefit - the rest of the working age unemployed are classed as 'Economically Inactive'...a figure which is a lot higher.

iaink

Personally I suspect its worse in the UK as there are no manufacturing jobs left to soften the blow, its all service industry and financial services and the like, which is exaclty what is taking the brunt of the current economic problems.

But, governements being what they are, I suspect we will have to leave it up to historians far in the future to figure out the real numbers not working...


Makes more sense to look at the recent changes in unemployment numbers, and the rate of change I guess...I wonder what that shows?

Brownstar

The unemployment rate was higher in Canada than it was in the UK, this time last year UK unemployment rate was 5.3% its now 6.5%. Statistics show a lot, but in a practice the are not always a true reflection as it depends on how the figures are complied.

My colleagues in the UK are suffering as all their clients, spread across the UK are not hiring. There is a very interesting graphic on the Guardian website that shows the spread of unemployment in the UK. I know personally I'd rather be here than back home at the moment.

MikeUK

I dunno, we've lost a lot in manufacturing in Ontario, many suppliers I deal with have gone into chapter 11 due to inability to get credit, the job losses quoted on the radio news haven’t been good recently either, and Alberta has lost a lot of oil projects due to the drop price of crude per barrel..
The service sector is soft but that also makes it flexible, and at this moment a lot of those that got us into the mess are still working due to the need to get out of the mess..
Its the case you need an accountant when you start a business, you need him when you run it and you still need him when you go bust only then can you get rid of him, the service sector may be parasitic by nature, but it doesn’t die until after it’s host is dead either

Souvenir

Nice one.

JonboyE

Don't forget there are lots of accountants working in insolvency as well!

According to the CBC accounting is the 5th most recession proof job in Canada.

jad n rich

Tell me about it. We had a job offer last October, was willing to step several rungs down the ladder to get the Canadian experience etc. Anyway my husbands brother went missing then died right at that time, we didnt go, was hoping to go in March instead. In that time we sold property arranged everything so we could go.

And you have guessed the rest - now no job available.

So were in australia, cashed up, ready to go..... Nowhere

Construction sounds really bad out there, amazing as the projects my husband does are massive commercial projects and Calgary looked full of them last October.

Novocastrian

Interesting. What are others in the top five?

JonboyE

I can't remember the exact order, or even job titles, but they were in health care, government at federal/provincial level, and k-12 education.

Butch Cassidy

Troll, Idiot, Engineer and Internet Chat room Mod.........................



Looks like me and Iain are safe for a while.

Souvenir

CBC and the Ottawa municipality have canned quite a few people in the last couple of days. We'll know we're in serious trouble if VIA starts sacking.

bodgerx

Looks like I stand a good chance of being in gameful employment for sometime to come...

http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/18/rec...hisSpeed=15000

http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2008/0...recession.html

...ahead of Accountants even - surely we are not that parasitic.

Souvenir

Gameful? That occupation is the safest of the lot.

ann m

I'd go for midwife and funeral director/mortician in the top five .... some things never go out of fashion ....

bodgerx

Freudian slip.