Canada’s unemployment rate stayed a historic low of 4.9 per cent in July, remaining unchanged from June as the country continues to face a labour shortage.
In its latest labour force survey, Statistics Canada says the economy lost 31,000 jobs, marking the second consecutive month of job losses.
The number of public sector employees fell, while the number of self-employed workers rose. There was little change in the number of private sector workers.
Canada’s labour market remains exceptionally tight, with over one million job vacancies across the country. The unemployment rate is the lowest on record with comparable data going back to 1976. Read more: Canada needs new homes built, but construction industry headed for retirement wall “The most important thing for Canadians to bear in mind is the unemployment rate today was confirmed to be at 4.9 per cent that is a historic low for Canada and that is good news for Canadians,” Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland told reports in Nova Scotia Friday. “Our big economic challenge when it comes to the labour market is a shortage of workers.” Statistics Canada says despite the labour shortage, there is no evidence of a rise in the proportion of people leaving or switching jobs.