The operating room at the Cambie Surgery Centre in Vancouver.JOHN LEHMANN
Recession, what recession? For years, one corner of Canada has outpaced the rest in employment and earnings growth, even eking out gains through the downturn: health care and social assistance.
The sector now employs more than 1.6 million Canadians, making it the second-largest in employment terms after retail trade, new Statistics Canada payrolls data show.
In contrast to elsewhere, its share of employment has climbed steadily since 2001, when the comparable data series began, the agency says.
It now accounts for 11 per cent of total employment in Canada -- up one full percentage point from 2001.
It grew even as other sectors shed workers in the recession, expanding 3.1 per cent between August, 2008 and August, 2009 as the remaining sectors contracted 3.4 per cent.
Wage growth has been solid too. Earnings were up 6.9 per cent in the year to April, well above the national average, with annual increases over the past decade.
So, how does the sector shake out? Hospitals account for the largest share, at 35 per cent of workers. Ambulatory health-care services, which include doctors, dentists, and other health-care practitioners comprise 26 per cent.
Another 22 per cent work in nursing and residential care, while 17 per cent are in social assistance.
Tavia Grant