Report comes as tariff uncertainty and economic slowdown continue to bite
Canada added 7,400 jobs in April, a statsitically insignificant addition accompanied by a decline of 0.1 per cent in the employment rate to 60.8 per cent and an increase of the unemployment rate by 0.2 per cent to 6.9 per cent.
Employment gains were notable among people aged 55 or older and core-aged men (25 to 54 years old). Employment fell by 60,000 among core-aged women.
Manufacturing lost 31,000 jobs in April while wholesale and retail trade lost 27,000 jobs. Public administration employment increased by 37,000 which StatCan attributes largely to the hiring of temporary workers in the aministration of the recent federal election. Financia, insurance, real estate, and leasing also added 24,000 jobs in April.
Geographically, the worst job losses occurred in Ontario, which lost 35,000 jobs. Quebec and Alberta added 18,000 and 15,000 jobs respectively.
The numbers reflect a relatively steady hold following a steeper decline in March and another flat month in February. The downward trend in the employment rate appears to reflect population growth outpacing employment gains.
