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Statistics Canada says the country’s unemployment rate increased by 0.2% to 6.7% in October from last month.
Meanwhile, employment was little changed in October as the employment rate fell 0.1% to 60.5%.
StatsCan says the unemployment rate for youth aged 15-24 increased 0.7% to 13.7% and also rose for people aged 55 and older (up 0.2% to 5.5%).
“(Friday’s) jobs numbers are their report card – and the grade is not good,” said Garnett Genuis, Conservative Shadow Minister for Employment, in a statement.
“The day after the Liberals released their fanfare-filled ‘Masters of Our Destiny’ budget, Statistics Canada reported a loss of more than 50,000 private sector jobs in October. The employment rate fell for a third consecutive month to 60.5%, unemployment rose for a second consecutive month to 6.7%, and youth unemployment jumped nearly a full percentage point to 13.7%.”
For those in the core age group (25- to 54-year-olds), the unemployment rate was unchanged for both men (5.8%) and women (5.3%).
Private sector jobs down, public sector jobs up
StatsCan says private sector employment fell by 53,000 positions last month, marking the first decline in the segment since February. Employment in the public sector, meanwhile, was up 50,000 positions.
Over the past year, the federal agency says employment grew by just 17,000 jobs, while the population aged 15 and older grew by nearly 188,000.
“People are struggling. Nearly 30% are living in a household that has difficulty meeting their financial needs,” said Genuis in a statement.
“Against this backdrop, the budget offered almost nothing about jobs. By the government’s own estimate, all of its measures together would only add about 50,000 jobs by 2030. That is fewer than the number of private sector jobs lost in October alone.”