Employment increased by 41,000 in Canada last month, mostly in full-time employment, while the unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 5.8%, according to Statistics Canada.
In Quebec, the unemployment rate remained at 4.7%.
Statistics Canada observed last month that population growth in Canada increased by 0.3%, outpacing employment growth of 0.2%.
The largest employment increases in Canada were in accommodation and food services, up 2.4%, and professional, scientific and technical services, up 0.9%. At the same time, declines were observed, notably of 1.1% in educational services and 0.8% in manufacturing.
Among core-aged men, the unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 5.3% in February in Canada, as more of them looked for work. Among women in the same age group, the unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage points to 4.6%.
In Quebec, employment changed little for a fifth month in a row in February. Over the 12 months ending last month, employment in Quebec rose 0.9%, while the employment rate declined.
In the Maritimes, employment increased 1.2% in February in Nova Scotia compared to the previous month and the unemployment rate decreased 1 percentage point to 6%.
The unemployment rate also fell in Prince Edward Island, from 7.4% in January to 7% last month. In New Brunswick, it increased from 6.6% to 6.9% during the same period.