The unemployment rate in Canada rose 0.2 percentage points to 6.9% in April as more people searched for work.
Statistics Canada said that overall employment was little changed during April, declining 0.1%, and that the employment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 60.5%.
The participation rate, or portion of the population aged 15 and older who were employed or looking for work, rose by 0.1 percentage points to 65% in April.
The Ottawa-based government agency added that employment across Canada varied little among age groups in April.
The unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points to 14.3% among youth aged 15 to 24, and by 0.3 percentage points to 6.1% among core-aged men.
Among sectors of the economy, employment decreases in April were seen in information, culture and recreation (down 25,000) and construction (down 16,000).
Employment increased in business, building and other support services (up 22,000), healthcare (up 18,000), and accommodation and food services (up 13,000).
Across the country, employment fell in Quebec by 43,000 positions, the biggest decline among Canada’s provinces.
Employment also fell in Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. However, job gains were achieved in Ontario (up 42,000), and there was little changed in other areas of the country.
Average hourly wages among employees rose 4.5%, or by $1.64 to $37.77, on a year-over-year basis in April. Wages grew 4.7% in March of this year.
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