Job Stats Show National Good Jobs Strategy Overdue, Lewenza says

TORONTO, Sept. 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Disappointing job growth in the month of August is further evidence that the Harper government's approach to economic development is failing Canadians, said CAW President Ken Lewenza.

"This Conservative model bent on tearing down our economic structures, whether through tax cuts, looser foreign investment laws and more unfair corporate trade deals isn't delivering prosperity for working people, so let's explore new policies that actually work," Lewenza said.

"Let's quit stalling and get on with the formation a national good jobs strategy for Canada."

Lewenza lamented the growth of more precarious part-time jobs (+46,700) and fewer full-time jobs (-12,500) in the latest Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey report released today, noting this trend toward poorer quality jobs extends over decades.

Lewenza said he's particularly concerned with the poor performance of the job market for youth. Employment among 15-24 year old workers in August was down 72,000 compared with 12 months earlier. August also marked one of the lowest levels on record for summer student workers. This caused the official youth unemployment rate to jump from 14.3 to 14.8 per cent.

"Add in those underemployed and those who have given up looking, and the true youth unemployment rate sits closer to 20 per cent. That's one in five. That's unacceptable," Lewenza said.

SOURCE: Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW)