Canada's unemployment rate climbs again, but rise is slower

June's jobless report was not encouraging for Canadian job seekers, but was a boost for government and economists. Surprisingly, June's job losses in Canada were not as bad as expected, and analysts are happy with the slow-down in job losses. Statistics Canada said in its Labour Force Survey released this morning that the overall job losses for April, May and June was only 13,000 positions. In contrast, January, February and March saw the loss of 273,000 jobs. June's unemployment rate still rose, as anticipated, and is now sitting at 8.6%, an increase from the 8.4% rate seen in May. While June's statistics show that there were fewer full time jobs available, the number of self-employed grew. The only province showing any gains in job creation was Newfoundland and Labrador, although their unemployment rate actually increased, in spite of the additional jobs. Statistics Canada attributed this to the fact that more people were looking for work in Newfoundland and Labrador in June. The Labour Force Survey for May saw jobs created in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, but those gains did not carry through into June. Statistics Canada said that unemployment rates for all provinces were holding steady, except for Quebec, which saw a large loss of manufacturing jobs in June. Student jobs (for those aged 15 to 24) were also hard-hit, with student unemployment at an 11-year high of 15.6% after another 33,000 student jobs were eliminated in June. The number of private sector jobs also decreased by 39,000 jobs. Ontario lost 56,000 jobs. Even though some may be encouraged by the slower pace of the unemployment rate, there is some disturbing news contained within the job creation news. Most of the jobs that were created in June are low-paying and part-time jobs. Meanwhile, as Canada's unemployed hope to find jobs, particularly full-time jobs; G8 leaders have been torn over whether to continue with their stimulus spending, or to start withdrawing from stimulus spending, particularly because of pronouncements that the recession is showing signs of coming to an end. Statistics Canada Labour Force surveys do not include Canadians such as people who are currently in an institution, who live on a reserve, who are in the armed forces full-time, and people aged 15 and older who are "neither employed nor unemployed., such as students and those in receipt of welfare or disability benefits.