AFP, Ottawa :
Canada’s unemployment rate fell 0.1 percent in January to 6.8 percent, the government said Friday.
Some 48,000 new jobs were added, in contrast with forecasts that had predicted a modest loss of 10,000 jobs and a stable unemployment rate.
Year-over-year employment grew by 276,000 jobs (+1.5 percent), with the bulk of hires occurring since August. Job growth was strongest in the service sector, but declined in the information, culture and recreation sectors.
Employment grew among men and women age 25-54 and varied little in other population segments, according to Statistics Canada.
At the regional level, the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland saw the greatest job growth.
Canada’s unemployment rate fell 0.1 percent in January to 6.8 percent, the government said Friday.
Some 48,000 new jobs were added, in contrast with forecasts that had predicted a modest loss of 10,000 jobs and a stable unemployment rate.
Year-over-year employment grew by 276,000 jobs (+1.5 percent), with the bulk of hires occurring since August. Job growth was strongest in the service sector, but declined in the information, culture and recreation sectors.
Employment grew among men and women age 25-54 and varied little in other population segments, according to Statistics Canada.
At the regional level, the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland saw the greatest job growth.
