Canada’s unemployment rate remained steady at 5.8% in December, according to official figures released Friday by Statistics Canada.
The figure came in lower than the market expectation of 5.9%.
“Employment was virtually unchanged in December,” Statistics Canada said in a statement. “The employment rate fell 0.2 percentage points to 61.6%, as the population aged 15 and older grew by 74,000.”
Employment in professional, scientific and technical services rose by 46,000, or 2.4% in December, followed by health care and social assistance with a gain of 16,000, or 0.6%.
These additions, however, were offset by declines in five industries.—AA
