Statistics Canada survey says unemployment rate slightly rose in April

Statistics Canada’s labour force survey on Friday showed a slight drop in jobs last month, as the unemployment rate climbed higher.

According to the national statistics agency, the unemployment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 6.9 per cent, as more people looked for work.

The agency says the economy dropped 18,000 jobs in April, following an increase of 14,000 jobs in March.

While the country added 67,000 more jobs on a year-over-year basis, Canada has lost 112,000 jobs since January — mostly in the manufacturing and wholesale sectors.

Ontario added 42,000 jobs last month, largely in health care and social assistance, but that gain was offset by a 43,000 job loss in Quebec in the wholesale and retail trade sectors.

Statistics Canada said in its report that average hourly wages were up 4.5 per cent compared to last year.

They say the unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 24 rose to 14.3 per cent in April. Women aged 25 to 54 years old (core-ages) did not change, but unemployment for core-aged men rose to 6.1 per cent.

Statistics Canada’s next labour force survey will be released June 5, reflecting this month’s labour market conditions during the week of May 10 to 16.

With Files from The Canadian Press.

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