Statistics Canada reported on Friday that the number of employed people increased
by 21,800 m-o-m in February (or +0.1 percent m-o-m) after an unrevised rise of 150,000 m-o-m in the previous month.
Economists had predicted an advance of 10,000 m-o-m.
Meanwhile, Canada's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.0 percent in February, being marginally below
economists’ forecast of 5.1 percent.
According to the report, full-time employment jumped by 31,100 (or +0.2 percent
m-o-m) in February, while part-time jobs dropped by 9,300 (or -0.3 percent
m-o-m).
Over the month, the number of private sector employees climbed by 38,500
(or +0.3 percent m-o-m), while the number of public sector employees fell by 7,900
(or -0.2 percent m-o-m), and the number of self-employed declined by 8,900 (or
-0.3 percent m-o-m).
Sector-wise, employment improved in the goods-producing industry (+0.4
percent m-o-m) and was unchanged in the services-producing business (0.0
percent m-o-m).