Canada lost 19,700 net jobs in April, according to Statistics Canada, as full-time work climbed by a healthy 46,900 but the country shed 66,500 part-time employees.
The national unemployment rate held steady at 6.8 per cent in April for the third straight month, StatsCan also said.
Alberta added 12,500 net jobs last month, even though the province’s natural resources sector lost 3,500 positions at a time of lower oil prices. The province’s sector had 17,200 fewer jobs compared to a year ago, down 9.5 per cent, but its unemployment rate stayed at 5.5 per cent.
StatsCan’s data also showed that British Columbia lost 28,700 net jobs last month and saw its unemployment rate rise to 6.3 per cent, up from 5.8 per cent the month before.
Compared to April 2014, nationwide employment was up by 139,100 jobs thanks to a boost from 165,800 net new full-time positions over the same period.
The country’s youth unemployment rate climbed to 13.6 per cent last month, up from 13.0 per cent in March. The data showed there were 13,200 fewer jobs last month for
young workers, aged 15 to 24, than the month before.
The economy also saw a net loss of 19,900 jobs in the public sector and registered a net gain of 24,200 private-sector positions.
