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May 8, 2026 2:26 PM - Connect Newsroom - Ramandeep Kaur with files from The Canadian Press

Canada’s unemployment rate rises to 6.9% in April as full-time job losses mount

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Statistics Canada reported a net loss of 17,700 jobs during the month. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Canada’s unemployment rate increased to 6.9 per cent in April, according to new data released Friday by Statistics Canada. The figure marks the country’s highest unemployment rate in the past six months.

Statistics Canada reported a net loss of 17,700 jobs during the month. Full-time employment saw the sharpest decline, with 46,700 positions lost, while part-time employment increased by 29,000 jobs.

The agency said Canada has lost a total of 112,000 jobs during the first four months of 2026. Youth unemployment continued to outpace the national average, rising to 14.3 per cent in April.

Economists say ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs and the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is contributing to pressure on the labour market. Statistics Canada said the higher unemployment rate also reflects an increase in the number of people actively searching for work.

The latest figures come amid continued concerns over affordability and economic stability for Canadian households. Labour market trends are expected to remain a key factor in upcoming economic and policy decisions by federal officials and the Bank of Canada.

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