OTTAWA — The country’s labour market saw a surge in full-time and private-sector work last month, increases that helped drive the national unemployment rate down to 7.1 per cent, Statistics Canada said Friday.
The findings of the agency’s labour force survey offered fresh clues that Canada’s economy could be building momentum under the new Justin Trudeau government.
The job market generated 40,600 net new positions in March, lowering the jobless rate from its 7.3 per cent reading in February. This was the largest month-over-month increase since 43,100 jobs were added in October, reported Canadian Press.
The details of the March data also showed encouraging signs because 35,300 of the net new jobs were full time, while the private sector created 65,100 positions.
The biggest gain was registered in services industries, which added 74,700 net new jobs.
“It gives us a picture of a job market that I think overall is pretty healthy given the current circumstances,” said Desjardins senior economist Jimmy Jean, referring to the struggles in the oil sector linked to the plunge in crude prices.
In the hard hit energy-rich region of Alberta, the provincial unemployment rate fell to 7.1 per cent in March compared to 7.9 per cent in February, thanks to more retail and wholesale trade positions. This change came despite the fact the jobless rate rose in both Calgary and Edmonton.
Overall, compared to 12 months earlier, Canada added 129,600 net new jobs, an increase of 0.7 per cent.
The data also showed that self-employed positions across Canada fell by 22,000 last month, while the net number of employee jobs increased by 62,600.
Here’s a quick look at March unemployment (previous month in brackets):
Unemployment rate: 7.1 per cent (7.3)
Employment rate: 61.2 per cent (61.1)
Labour force participation rate: 65.9 per cent (65.9)
Number unemployed: 1,384,900 (1,410,400)
Number working: 18,043,500 (18,002,900)
Youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate: 13.4 per cent (13.3)
Men (25 plus) unemployment rate: 6.6 per cent (6.9)
Women (25 plus) unemployment rate: 5.4 per cent (5.5)
Here’s what happened provincially (previous month in brackets):
Newfoundland and Labrador 13.1 per cent (14.1)
Prince Edward Island 11.0 (11.0)
Nova Scotia 9.1 (9.1)
New Brunswick 10.2 (9.9)
Quebec 7.5 (7.6)
Ontario 6.8 (6.8)
Manitoba 6.0 (6.0)
Saskatchewan 6.2 (5.9)
Alberta 7.1 (7.9)
British Columbia 6.5 (6.6)
