Statistics Canada reported 62,000 full-time jobs were lost in the month, partly offset by a gain in part-time employment so that equates to employment falling by 33,000 in March.  StatsCan said the unemployment rate for March rose to 6.7 per cent compared with 6.6 per cent in February.

Provincially Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate dropped from 5.4 per cent to 4.9 in March.  Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate among provinces in Canada.  In Saskatchewan, employment rose by 6,600, the second increase in four months. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the province was up by 19,000 or a 3.1 per cent increase.

In Saskatchewan’s two largest cities Regina’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.9 per cent from 7.2 per cent while in Saskatoon it edged up slightly month to month from 4.7 to 4.8 per cent in March.

Nationally, the wholesale and retail trade sector lost 29,000 jobs in March, following an increase of 51,000 in February.  The information, culture and recreation sector lost 20,000 jobs, while the agriculture sector lost 9,300 jobs.