The Canadian economy created 17,900 jobs last month, less than expected, as gains in part-time jobs outweighed full-time losses.
The country's jobless rate stayed at 8.2% in March, Statistics Canada said Friday.
The Canadian dollar weakened, trading at 99.33 cents U.S. from around the parity mark, as employers added fewer jobs than anticipated. It's the first major economic release in weeks to disappoint – economists had expected 26,000 new jobs would be added with the unemployment rate falling to 8.1%.
The job gains, though muted, highlight slow but steady improvements in the labour market. Employers have now added to payrolls in the past six of eight months. March's employment gains brings the total increase to 176,000 since July.
The economy shed 14,200 full-time jobs last month, while creating 32,200 part-time positions. It's a reversal of a month earlier, when full-time jobs drove the gains, partly due to Olympic-related hiring.
Professional, scientific and technical services, construction and natural resources added the most jobs. Declines were tallied in business, building and other support services along with transportation and warehousing.
The construction sector created 21,000 jobs, natural resources grew 13,200 positions and professional services expanded by 38,400. Business and building services tumbled 26,300 and transportation and warehousing eliminated 19,600 jobs.
Employment rose in Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan and was little changed elsewhere.
Alberta's employment was little changed, but more people entering the labour force pushed the jobless rate to 7.5% -- a 14-year high. "Alberta is the only province with an employment decline since July," the agency noted.
The private sector grew by 42,400 positions while the public sector shed 20,600 positions and self-employment declined by 4,000.
Demographic groups saw little change in the month. Since July, when the labour market picked up, the largest gains in employment have been among women aged 25 to 54 and men aged 55 and over.
