Employment in Canada rose by 0.2% or 34,700 jobs in March with a vast majority of the gains in the private sector, Statistics Canada reported today. Total employment in March reached nearly 20.1 million.
The CBC reported the number of jobs added beat expectations, noting economists polled by Bloomberg had expected the economy to add only 12,000 jobs in March.
Gains were both in full-time jobs, up 18,800, and part-time jobs, up 15,900.
For the fourth consecutive month, Canada’s unemployment rate held steady at 5.0% in March.
Industries adding jobs in March included transportation and warehousing, up 41,000 jobs; business building and other support services, up 31,000; and finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, up 19,000 jobs. However, several industries posted declines, including construction, down 19,000 jobs; other services, down 11,000 jobs; and natural resources, down 11,000 jobs
Ontario led employment growth among the provinces by adding 21,400 in March, followed by Alberta, which added 13,700 jobs.