Canada’s Unemployment Rate Unchanged At 6.9% In July

Canada’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.9% in July as employment across the country fell by 41,000 jobs. The employment decline during July was concentrated among youth aged 15 to 24 (down 34,000 positions), said Statistics Canada. Employment among core-aged 25 to 54-year-old workers, as well as among those aged 55 and older, was little changed in the month. However, employment declined across several important economic sectors, led by information, culture and recreation (down 29,000 jobs) and construction (down 22,000). Across the country, employment fell in Alberta by 17,000 positions and British Columbia by 16,000 jobs. Those declines were partly offset by job gains in Saskatchewan (up 3,500). Employment was little changed in Canada’s other provinces and territories. Total hours worked in July were also little changed (down 0.2%) compared with a year earlier when it rose 0.3%. Average hourly wages among Canadian workers increased 3.3% in July, rising by $1.17 to $36.16 on a year-over-year basis. Canada’s job market has stagnated in recent months as uncertainty rises with U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian goods and services.