The unemployment rate remained stable at 6.1% in the country in April, while the Canadian economy added 90,000 jobs. In Quebec, employment increased by 19,000 and the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage point to reach 5.1%.
According to Statistics Canada, the increase in employment in the country in April was mainly attributable to part-time work, which increased by 1.4%, and to the private sector.
Nationally, the unemployment rate remained at 6.1% in April, after increasing 0.3 percentage points in March. There were 1.3 million people unemployed in April.
In Quebec, the creation of 19,000 jobs represented the first significant increase since September 2023.
Canada’s job market has cooled significantly over the past year as interest rate hikes from the Bank of Canada weighed on economic growth.
The unemployment rate increased by one percentage point from last year as population growth outpaced job creation.
Data shows unemployment is rising across all major demographic groups, with young people hardest hit.
The increase in employment in April marks the largest monthly increase since January 2023.
Jobs were added in particular in the professional, scientific and technical services, accommodation and food services, health care and social assistance, and natural resources sectors.
However, employment declined in the public services sector.
The average hourly wage of employees rose 4.7% year over year last month, after increasing 5.1% in March.
The Bank of Canada will monitor the data that was released Friday as it conducts its discussions ahead of its next interest rate decision, expected in June.
Economists widely expect the central bank to begin lowering its key rate in June or July, with the decision heavily dependent on inflation data in April.
The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate is currently at 5%, its highest level since 2001.