Canada’s unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points to 6.1% in March as the country’s labour market softened.
On a year-over-year basis, the unemployment rate in Canada increased by 1% in March, according to data from Statistics Canada.
Employment declined among youth aged 15 to 24 (down 28,000) while it rose among core-aged men aged 25 to 54 (up 20,000).
Employment was little changed among core-aged women and women and men aged 55 and older.
Consequently, the employment rate was little changed in March and Canada’s employment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 61.4%.
The biggest job losses were seen in accommodation and food services (down 27,000), wholesale and retail trade (down 23,000) and professional services (down 20,000).
Those losses were partially offset by employment increases in four industries, led by healthcare and social assistance (up 40,000).
Across the country, employment decreased in Quebec (down 18,000), Saskatchewan (down 6,000) and Manitoba (down 4,300).
On the flipside, employment rose the most in Ontario during March (up 26,000).
Average hourly wages among Canadia employees increased 5.1% in March to $34.81 on a year-over-year basis. That followed growth of 5% in February of this year.
