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As has been the case since last summer, there was nothing to cheer about in
Job losses were minimal at 2,800, but economists had expected a modest 15,000 pick-up in the month, if only because the last seven months has seen job creation slow to a trickle.
And for the fifth straight month, Canadian youth in the 15-24 age category took it on the chin, dropping another 26,800 jobs. A report by
The drop in the unemployment rate occurred not because the economy created jobs, but because the number of Canadians looking for employment fell by 37,900, all in
Labour market contraction at a time of rising population is normally associated with discouraged workers giving up on finding employment.
After strong job growth following the 2008-09 recession,
Statistics
Economists estimate
The biggest losses in February came in the retail and wholesale trade industries, which shed about 37,000 workers, followed by 22,000 job declines in both transportation and warehousing, and health care and social assistance.
Meanwhile, employment in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing rose by 41,000, reversing half the declines in the industries over the past five months. There were also smaller gains in educational services, business, building and other support services, natural resources, construction and manufacturing.
Regionally, six out of 10 provinces experienced job losses in February, although none were large. The only significant movement in the provincial numbers was
Copyright: | (c) 2012 The Canadian Press |
Source: | Associated Press |
Wordcount: | 384 |
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