Employment in Canada increased by 41,000 in April, mostly in part-time work, and the unemployment rate remained at the same level as in the previous four months, at 5%.
Statistics Canada also observed that the unemployment rate stood at 4.1% in Quebec in April and that employment was stable. The unemployment rate in the Quebec City metropolitan area held steady at 1.7% in April and remained the lowest of all metropolitan areas in Canada.
The record low of the unemployment rate in Quebec, of 3.9%, was raised last January and in November 2022.
Across the country, employment increased in wholesale and retail trade, transportation and warehousing, information, culture and recreation, and educational services. By contrast, the number of people working in business services, building services and other support services fell.
Employment rose by 18,000 among core-aged men, those aged 25 to 54, and by 16,000 among men aged 55 and over. Meanwhile, it has remained stable among core-aged and older women.
Statistics Canada reports that in Prince Edward Island, the unemployment rate rose in one month from 6.6% to 7.1% in April. The federal agency, however, observed that employment rose by 2,200 in the island province, or 2.5%, which was the fourth increase in the last five months.
In New Brunswick, the unemployment rate went from 5.8% to 6.1% while in Nova Scotia, it increased from 5.7% to 6.3%.