Canada’s unemployment rate jumped to 5.4 per cent in August, marking the first increase in seven months.
Statistics Canada reported Friday that employment fell for the third consecutive month, with the economy losing 40,000 jobs.
“Employment gains in various industries, including “other services” and professional, scientific, and technical services, were more than offset by declines in educational services and construction,” the agency said in its latest labour force survey.
There were 28,000 fewer public-sector employees in August, while the number of employees in the private sector and the number of self-employed workers held steady.
StatCan said employment among youth aged 15 to 24 fell by 25,000, with the decline being primarily among young women.
Among people aged 55 and older, employment held steady for a second consecutive month. For those aged 55 to 64, employment fell by 34,000 in the month, offsetting an increase in July.
Employment among men and women in the core working ages of 25 to 54 was little changed.
A look at the provinces
According to the report, employment fell in Nova Scotia, Manitoba and British Columbia, while it increased in Quebec. There was little change in the other provinces.
New Brunswick added 4,400 part-time jobs but lost 2,600 full-time jobs in August for a net gain of 1,900.
However, the unemployment rate climbed by 0.5 percentage points to 7.6 per cent as the labour force grew by 4,200 people.
In Nova Scotia, the unemployment rate jumped from 5.9 to 7.6 per cent as the province shed 5,200 jobs.
The increase in full-time employment (6,700) was more than offset by a drop in part-time employment (11,900).
Ontario’s unemployment rate climbed to 5.7 per cent, up from 5.3 per cent the month before, as the province lost more than 19,000 jobs.
Part-time employment fell by 17,900 while full-time employment dropped by 1,300.
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