Canada Loses 112,000 Jobs Over Four Months, Most Since 2021
Canada lost 17,700 jobs in April, bringing total employment losses this year to 112,000 — the weakest four-month stretch since the pandemic recovery in 2021 — as the unemployment rate climbed to 6.9%, according to Statistics Canada. Economists said the weakening labour market reflects slowing economic momentum amid uncertainty tied to U.S. tariffs and global instability, while financial markets reduced expectations for future interest rate hikes by the Bank of Canada. The report showed losses were concentrated in full-time positions and sectors such as construction and manufacturing, while youth unemployment rose to 14.3% even as overall wage growth remained relatively strong at 4.8% annually.
