Health and social sector jobs continue upward trend.

OTTAWA -- The upward trend continues for health care and social assistance employment. Employment rose by 19,000 in April, continuing the upward trend that began two years ago. The gain in April was primarily in offices of health care practitioners.

The increase in the month was 11,100 jobs, a rate of 6.1%. Employment increased in all sectors by 50,000 jobs, a rate of 1.7%.

A total of 1,755,900 Canadians are employed in the health and social assistance sector.

Employment
Canada and health and social assistance sector

                         Mar-04     Apr-04      Mar to
                                                Apr. 04
seasonally adjusted                 '000
Canada                  15,901.10   15,950.70    49.6

Health care and
social assistance        1,737.20    1,755.90    18.7

                         Apr-03 to   Mar to     Apr. to
                         Apr-04      Apr-04     Apr-04

seasonally adjusted                  %
Canada                     261.6     0.3        1.7

Health care and
social assistance          101       1.1        6.1

Source: Statistics Canada