Employment in Canada edged down slightly in March from February following increases in the two prior months, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by Statistics Canada. However, in the first quarter of 2019, employment rose by 116,000.
Canada lost approximately 6,400 full-time jobs and 900 part-time jobs during March. Total employment exceeded 18.9 million, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.8%.
Employment rose by 13,000 jobs in the finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing industry; most of the increase in March was in British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta. In public administration, employment increased for the third month in a row — up 9,600 in March — with the majority of the increase in British Columbia and Alberta.
On the flip side employment declined in healthcare and social assistance; in business, building and other support services; and in accommodation and food services.
The services-producing sector saw employment decrease by 8,800 in March, while jobs in the goods-producing increased by 1,600.
Following two consecutive monthly increases, employment in Ontario held steady in March, down by 8,800, hampered by a loss of 11,600 full-time jobs; the unemployment rate in the province rose to 5.9% in March from 5.7% in February.
Following two consecutive monthly increases, employment in Ontario held steady in March. As a result of more people looking for work, the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 5.9%. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the province was up 2.4% or 175,000, mostly in full-time work.
Employment increased in Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, while it was little changed in the remaining provinces.
