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Canada's economy posts modest job gains in June, unemployment rate edges down
Part-time and service-sector hiring drove the gain, while manufacturing and construction lost nearly 30,000 jobs, Statistics Canada said.
On Friday, Statistics Canada reported Canada added a net 18,200 jobs in June, pushing the national unemployment rate down to 6.5%, marking the second consecutive monthly decline.
Part-Time hiring and service-sector growth in retail and accommodation and food services drove gains, as youth aged 15 to 24 added 33,000 positions, pushing their unemployment rate down to 12.7%.
Goods-Producing sectors shed 43,700 jobs, with manufacturing losing 16,800 positions; the public sector also contracted sharply, shedding 30,500 employees—the largest monthly decline since 2015.
Average hourly wages for permanent employees grew 3.7% annually, up from 3.2% in May, keeping inflationary pressures in focus before the Bank of Canada's interest rate decision on Wednesday.
RBC assistant chief economist Nathan Janzen expects the unemployment rate will continue to decline through 2026, though he noted slowing population growth suggests Canadians should anticipate smaller monthly employment gains.