Canada March employment change -32.6K versus 10.0K estimate

• Prior month 1.1 K
• Employment change.-32.6 K vs 2.0 K estimate
• unemployment rate 6.7% vs 6.7% estimate. Last month 6.6% – the first increase since November 2024
• full-time employment -62.0 K versus -19.7 K last month
• part-time employment 29.5 K versus 20.8 K last month
• Total hours worked rose 0.4% in March (after -1.3% in February); up 1.2% year-over-year
• Average hourly wages rose 3.6% year-over-year to $36.05 (+$1.24); February growth was 3.8%

Other details:

• Employment declined in wholesale and retail trade (-29,000; -1.0%)

• Employment declined in information, culture and recreation (-20,000; -2.4%)

• Employment increased in ‘other services’ (+12,000; +1.5%)

• Employment increased in utilities (+4,200; +2.8%)

• Employment fell in Ontario (-28,000; -0.3%) and Alberta (-15,000; -0.6%)

• Employment increased in Saskatchewan (+6,600; +1.1%)

• Little employment change in other provinces in March

The decline in March followed little change in February and three consecutive months of growth in November, December and January totalling 211,000 (+1.0%).

Private sector employment fell by 48,000 (-0.3%) in March

• Little change in February after a cumulative gain of 97,000 (+0.7%) from Nov 2024 to Jan 2025

• Up 175,000 (+1.3%) year-over-year

Public sector employment was little changed in March (third straight month)

• Up 92,000 (+2.1%) year-over-year

Self-employment was little changed in March

• Up 81,000 (+3.0%) year-over-year

This article was written by Greg Michalowski at www.forexlive.com.