Canada gains more jobs than expected in June, jobless rate rises to 5.4%

OTTAWA (Reuters) – The Canadian economy added a net 59,900 jobs in June, far more than expected, while the jobless rate ticked up to 5.4% as more people searched for work, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a net gain of 20,000 jobs and for the unemployment rate to edge up to 5.3% in June from 5.2% in May.

The unemployment rate in June increased for the second consecutive month and is now at its highest level since February 2022, though still below a pre-pandemic 12-month average, Statscan said.

The June jobs report is among the last economic data to be released before the Bank of Canada’s rate announcement on Wednesday. The central bank raised its overnight rate to a 22-year high of 4.75% last month over concerns about sticky inflation but said that further moves would be dependent on fresh information.

The average hourly wage for permanent employees – a figure the Bank of Canada watches closely – rose 3.9% from June 2022, compared with a 5.1% year-over-year increase in May. It was the smallest increase in wages in 14 months.

The net jobs addition, largest since January, were driven by full-time work.

Employment in goods sector increased by a net 9,800 jobs, mainly in the manufacturing sector, while a net 50,000 services jobs were added in June, led by wholesale and retail trade, and health care and social assistance sectors.

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