Canada Adds 54,700 Jobs in December

By Paul Vieira

OTTAWA--Job gains in Canada slowed in December after a stellar performance in the previous month but continued on an upward trend. The unemployment rate fell below 6%.

Statistics Canada reported Friday that Canada's economy added a net 54,700 jobs in December, following a gain of over 153,000 in the previous month. Market expectations were for a 25,000 advance in December, according to economists at TD Securities.

The unemployment rate in December fell to 5.9%, or just above the February 2020 mark of 5.7%. Expectations were for the jobless rate to remain unchanged from the previous month at 6.0%.

When calculated using U.S. Labor Department methodology, Canada's unemployment rate in December was 4.7%.

Write to Paul Vieira at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-07-22 0855ET