Canada’s unemployment rate went up to 6.1 per cent in March as more people searched for work and job growth stopped moving, Statistics Canada said on Friday.
That’s up from 5.8 per cent in February and is the largest increase in the rate of not having a job since summer 2022.
The federal agency’s labour force survey shows employment barely changed last month, with the economy losing 2,200 jobs, after small increases over the last few months.
Job losses were focused in accommodation and food services, followed by wholesale and retail trade and professional, scientific and technical services.
Meanwhile, employment grew in four industries, led by health care and social assistance.
Statistics Canada said the rise in the jobless rate was caused by an increase of 60,000 people looking for work or temporarily laid off.
More to come…
- Increasing oil prices might change the timing of Bank of Canada reducing interest rates
- Bank of Canada survey finds fewer businesses expect a recession
