OTTAWA -
Canada's labour market showed signs of coming out of the deep slumber in June as a surprisingly low 7,400 jobs were lost during the month, compared to the 42,000 workers who lost their jobs the previous month.
The unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a point to 8.6 per cent, largely because more Canadians were looking for work during the month.
Saskatchewan regained possession of the top spot in the country as its jobless rate dropped to 4.6 per cent from 4.9 per cent, while the province it was tied with in May, Manitoba, saw its rate jump to 5.2 per cent.
But the good news ended there since full-time employment and private sector jobs - the two most reliable indicators of labour market strength - both continued to fall sharply.
The agency reported there were 47,500 fewer full-time workers in June, bringing the total losses in the category regarded as the most reliable indicator of labour market strength to 454,000.
Struggling Ontario suffered the most in this regard with a 56,000 loss in full-time jobs, all offset by a similar increase in part-time work.
And the private sector continued to shed jobs, dropping another 39,000.
