Canada’s unemployment rate remained at a record low of 4.9 per cent in July.
Statistics Canada says employment fell by 31,000 across the country compared to June.
“At the industry level, a decline in the services-producing sector was offset by an increase in the goods-producing sector,” said the agency’s latest labour force survey released Friday.
Losses in the services-producing sector were spread across several industries, including wholesale and retail trade, health care and social assistance, and educational services.
StatCan said a drop in the number of employees working in the public sector was tempered by a gain among self-employed workers. The number of private sector employees was little changed.
Employment fell among women aged 25 and older in July, while employment rose for men aged 55 and older. It was little changed among youth aged 15 to 24 and men aged 25 to 54.
Fewer people were working in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, according to the report, while employment was little changed in all other provinces.
A look at the provinces
In New Brunswick, the unemployment rate jumped by a full percentage point to 7.1 per cent, up from 6.1 per cent in June.
StatCan said while employment rose by 1,200 people last month, the labour force also grew by 5,500 people.
The province added 6,600 full-time jobs but lost 5,300 part-time positions.
Nova Scotia’s unemployment rate fell to 5.9 per cent from 7.0 per cent the month before.
Employment rose by 1,600 people while the labour force shrank by 4,400 people.
According to the report, the province added 600 full-time jobs and 1,000 part-time positions.
The unemployment rate in Ontario climbed to 5.3 per cent from 5.1 per cent in June.
While employment dropped by more than 27,000 people, the labour force also shrank by more than 15,000 people.
StatCan said the province lost more than 57,000 full-time positions but gained 30,000 part-time jobs.
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