Canada’s economy added 35,000 net new jobs in March, and the unemployment rate held steady at 5.0%.
Statistics Canada reported that job gains during March were concentrated in transportation and warehousing (up 41,000); business, building and other support services (up 31,000); and in finance, insurance and real estate (up 19,000).
Those gains were partially offset by employment declines in construction (down 19,000); other services (down 11,000); and natural resources (also down 11,000).
Overall employment was unchanged among women but rose among men. The number of employees grew in the private sector (up 35,000 positions) in March, while there was little change in public sector employment and among self-employed people.
Employment increased in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island. There were fewer people employed in Saskatchewan and employment was little changed in other provinces, said Statistics Canada.
For the fourth consecutive month, Canada’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.0% in March, just above the record low of 4.9% reached in July 2022.
In terms of hourly wage in Canada, they rose 5.3% in March from a year earlier to reach $33.12.
