Employment was little changed (-31,000) in July, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9%. Employment declined among older and core-aged women, while it was up among older men. At the industry level, a decline in the services-producing sector was offset by an increase in the goods-producing sector. A decrease in the number of employees working in the public sector was tempered by a gain among self-employed workers. Fewer people were working in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, while employment was little changed in all other provinces. Total hours worked were down 0.5% in July, after increasing 1.3% in June. ... (full story)

Canada's economy unexpectedly lost a net 30,600 jobs in July as the public sector contracted, while the unemployment rate stayed at a record low 4.9%, Statistics Canada data indicated on Friday. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected an increase of 20,000 positions and for the jobless rate to edge up to 5.0%. July marked the second month in a row of relatively moderate losses. Between May 2021 and May 2022, the economy added a hefty 1.06 million jobs as the recovery from COVID-19 took hold. The average hourly wages of permanent employees - a figure the Bank of Canada watches closely - rose by 5.4% from July 2021, ... (full story)