Canada’s economy lost 68,000 jobs in May amid another month of pandemic restrictions.
The majority of the losses are part-time workers with a decline of 54,000 jobs.
May saw a slight improvement compared to April when Canada’s job market shrunk by 207,000 jobs.
Ontario’s stay-at-home order continues to prevent a speedy economic recovery. Elsewhere Alberta and Manitoba implemented tightened restrictions in early May.
Nova Scotia took the largest hit among Canadian provinces with a loss of 22,200 jobs caused by a province-wide shutdown that closed non-essential retail stores.
Canada’s unemployment rate experienced minor changes, rising to 8.2%, as the number of people searching for a job or on a temporary layoff held steady.
In New Brunswick, a loss in full-time employment was mitigated by 2,500 new part-time workers. The province’s unemployment rate is up to 9%.
