Canada adds 75,000 new jobs in July, unemployment rate lowest in 2 years

Canada adds 75,000 new jobs in July, unemployment rate lowest in 2 years

Statistics Canada says gains split between full-time, part-time work

Canada added 75,000 jobs in July, up 0.4 per cent, as the unemployment fell to 6.4 per cent, its lowest level in two years.

Statistics Canada's labour force survey released on Friday said most of those gains were split between full- and part-time work, as wholesale and retail trade alone added 21,000 new jobs.

The agency says employment rose for people aged 25 to 54, and mostly for women in that age group.

Canada added 18,000 jobs in June as unemployment rate edged down

The unemployment rate held steady at 5.8 per cent for men aged 25 to 54, StatsCan says, while falling 5.2 per cent for women in that cohort.

Ontario added the most jobs of any province in July, with 52,000, or an increase of 0.6 per cent, mostly in the professional, scientific and technical services sector. British Columbia had a similar increase, with 18,000 new jobs.

Manitoba's employment rate rose 0.8 per cent, adding 5,900 new jobs, while Nova Scotia's increased 0.8 per cent, thanks to 4,600 jobs.

Statistics Canada said the country is up 181,000 jobs since April, and 196,000 from a year ago.

Economists have previously said the labour market appeared to be stabilizing after the first quarter of the year brought a mild contraction and employers shed jobs.

The economy likely fared a lot better in the second quarter, with StatsCan estimating real GDP grew 3.4 per cent on an annualized basis over the three-month period.

However, U.S. President Donald Trump's latest threats of 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian imports are casting fresh uncertainty over employers.