After two straight months of large gains, Canada's economy lost more than 10,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate inched up to 6.6%
Statistics Canada reported Friday that there were 10,700 fewer jobs in November than there were a month earlier. The economy actually added more than 5,000 full-time jobs, but that was offset by a decline of 16,000 part-time positions.
Across the country, employment declined in Ontario, which lost 34,000 jobs, and Saskatchewan, while it increased in Quebec as well as Newfoundland and Labrador.
Quebec posted the biggest monthly gain, adding more than 19,000 new jobs — the first time in the more than six months that the province has shown any jobs growth.
Retail was the hardest-hit sector, shedding 42,000 jobs, while the agricultural sector added 8,000 jobs during the month.
Although a weak showing, the monthly numbers were pretty much in line with what economists had been expecting — a small decline in the number of jobs after two big months, and a slight uptick in the jobless rate.
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