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Canada’s economy added a net of 18,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate edged down to 6.5 per cent, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday, slightly beating estimates and continuing the momentum seen in the prior month despite the lingering trade uncertainty.
Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a net of 10,000 job gains, following a jump of 87,800 jobs in May, and they had estimated the unemployment rate at 6.6 per cent.
Statistics Canada said the job gains in June were largely concentrated in part-time work and in accommodation and food services and wholesale and retail trade.
The unemployment rate among youth fell 0.7 percentage points to 12.7 in the month, as 33,000 positions were added for workers between the ages of 15 and 24.
While the unemployment rate in this category has improved in the last two months, StatsCan said it still remains higher than the pre-pandemic average of 10.8 per cent observed during the period from 2017 to 2019.
Among core aged workers (25 to 54), the unemployment rate was steady.
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