Economy adds 303,000 jobs in March, unemployment rate falls
Posted April 9, 2021 6:39 am.
Last Updated April 9, 2021 11:19 am.
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says the economy added 303,000 jobs in March.
The figure released this morning outpaced the 259,000 gain seen in February that, at the time, whipped past expectations.
#BREAKING Canada job gains surge in March at triple the forecast.
303,100 jobs added in March (forecast +100,000)
+175,400 full-time jobs
+127,800 part-time jobs
Unemployment rate at 7.5% (down from 8.2%)@680NEWS @NEWS1130 @660NEWS— Mike Eppel (@eppman) April 9, 2021
The March increase puts employment 296,000 shy of the pre-COVID level in February 2020, or roughly 1.5 per cent of pre-crisis levels.
It also sent the unemployment rate to 7.5 per cent, down from 8.2 per cent in February, bringing the rate to a pandemic-era low.
The jobs numbers come just over a week before the federal Liberals release a budget where employment levels are expected to be used as a gauge for planned stimulus measures.
Alberta’s unemployment rate fell to 9.1 per cent from 9.9, which is the second-highest in Canada behind Newfoundland and Labrador.
Calgary and Edmonton’s unemployment rates also fell to 10 and 11.2 per cent respectively.
