Canada’s unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 5.8% in February, offsetting a previous decline in January.
In all, the labour market added 41,000 net new jobs in February, according to data from Statistics Canada.
The employment rate in the country fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.5% as population growth (up 0.3%) continues to outpace employment growth (up 0.2%).
Employment rose during February in Alberta (up 17,000 positions) and Nova Scotia (up 6,300) while it declined by 5,300 jobs in Manitoba. There was little change elsewhere across Canada.
Employment gains were led by accommodation and food services (up 26,000) and professional, scientific, and technical services (up 18,000).
However, those gains were partly offset by declines in educational services (down 17,000) and manufacturing (down 14,000 jobs).
Total hours worked in February were little changed but increased 1.3% from a year earlier.
Average hourly wages among employees in Canada rose 5% year-over-year in February to $34.82, following an increase of 5.3% in January.
As Canada’s population continues to grow at a rapid rate through immigration, the number of new jobs created in February failed to keep pace, resulting in a decline in the employment rate.
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