Canada’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.6% in February as the labour market was largely static during the month.
Data from Statistics Canada shows that employment increased in wholesale and retail trade (up by 51,000 jobs), as well as finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (up 16,000).
However, those gains were largely offset by declines in professional, scientific and technical services (down 33,000 jobs) and transportation and warehousing (down 23,000).
The result is that Canada’s unemployment rate has held steady at 6.6%.
Across the country, employment declined by 4,300 positions in Nova Scotia while it was little changed in all other provinces during February.
Total hours worked decreased 1.3% in the month but were up 0.5% compared with 12 months ago.
Average hourly wages among Canadian workers rose 3.8% to $36.14 on a year-over-year basis, building on growth of 3.5% seen in January.
The employment rate, which is the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who are employed, was also unchanged in February at 61.1%, said Statistics Canada.
