The country lost more jobs than expected in November, with Statistics Canada reporting on Friday a net decline of 35,700 positions in the month.
The drop sent the national unemployment rate higher by one tenth of a percentage point, to 7.1 per cent.
The consensus among economists was for the economy to shed about 10,000 positions in the month largely because of a pullback in election-related hiring that boosted numbers in October.
MORE: ‘Two-speed’ economy on display as Canada loses 36,000 jobs in November
Resource cuts
More job losses in Alberta and other regions hit by a rout in oil and other commodities were also anticipated as layoff notices continued to go out to workers in the month as resource firms moved to slash costs.
WATCH: It’s been another dismal month in Alberta’s job market, but what’s interesting: Edmonton is a different story. Fletcher Kent explains.
In Alberta, the jobless rate ticked fourth tenths of a percentage point higher to 7 per cent as 14,900 jobs were lost — the biggest drop in the country.
“Overall, a weak report, even after looking through the election impact on the prior month,” Avery Shenfeld, chief economist at CIBC, said.
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