MODERATE EMPLOYMENT GAINS EXPECTED IN MONTHS AHEAD

Ottawa – The Help-wanted index compiled by the Conference Board of Canada fell 9.5 percentage points in June 2013, bringing it to 128.7.

With domestic demand expected to slow this year due to a cooling housing market, soft consumer spending, and slower public and private investment, employers are likely to be cautious about their near-term hiring.

Including June’s drop, the recent trend in the index suggests that employment gains will be moderate in the coming months.