But surge of jobseekers outnumbers job growth in March
An increase in jobseekers in the market and modest increases in new jobs pushed the unemployment rate in March up from it's record low in February, according to Statistics Canada.
The agency's most recent labour force survey found there were 15,000 net new jobs in March, pushing Canada's labour force participation rate to a new high of 68 per cent.
However, there weren't enough new jobs to offset the increase of jobseekers entering the market, causing the unemployment rate to edge up to 6 per cent from 5.8 per cent in February.
Most of the new jobs were in Alberta and British Columbia, each setting new employment rate records.
There were 15,000 new jobs in B.C., pushing the employment rate up to 64 per cent and pushing the unemployment rate down to 4.3 per cent.
In Alberta, 10,000 new jobs pushed the employment rate to 74.4 per cent — the highest of any province — and the unemployment rate fell 3.4 per cent.
New jobs were seen in transportation and warehousing and natural resources, while there were job losses in information, culture and recreation.
In March, employment among older workers (55 years and older) increased by 24,000, building on the strong gains of the past year. Older workers have shown the fastest employment increase of all age groups over the past 12 months, with an annual growth rate of 7.8 per cent, well above the 0.9 per cent for workers aged 25 to 54.
The agency's most recent labour force survey found there were 15,000 net new jobs in March, pushing Canada's labour force participation rate to a new high of 68 per cent.
However, there weren't enough new jobs to offset the increase of jobseekers entering the market, causing the unemployment rate to edge up to 6 per cent from 5.8 per cent in February.
Most of the new jobs were in Alberta and British Columbia, each setting new employment rate records.
There were 15,000 new jobs in B.C., pushing the employment rate up to 64 per cent and pushing the unemployment rate down to 4.3 per cent.
In Alberta, 10,000 new jobs pushed the employment rate to 74.4 per cent — the highest of any province — and the unemployment rate fell 3.4 per cent.
New jobs were seen in transportation and warehousing and natural resources, while there were job losses in information, culture and recreation.
In March, employment among older workers (55 years and older) increased by 24,000, building on the strong gains of the past year. Older workers have shown the fastest employment increase of all age groups over the past 12 months, with an annual growth rate of 7.8 per cent, well above the 0.9 per cent for workers aged 25 to 54.
