Canada adds 41,000 jobs in April, unemployment steady at 5% for 5th month

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Canada's economy added 41,000 jobs in April, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5% for the fifth consecutive month, according to the country’s statistical body on Friday.

The jobs figure came much higher than the market expectation of 20,000 additions. The estimate for the unemployment rate was to come in at 5.1%.

Employment increased in wholesale and retail trade by 24,000, or 0.8% in April, and grew by 17,000, or 1.6%, in transportation and warehousing, according to Statistics Canada.

On an annual basis, the number of employees in April grew in the private sector by 299,000, or 2.3%, compared to the same month of last year.

The year-on-year gain in the public sector was a jobs gain of 81,000, or 2%.

Average hourly wages, annually, increased by 5.2% in April.