DATA SNAP: Canada Sheds 9,400 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Rises to 7.1%

By Dow Jones Business News, July 11, 2014, 08:45:00 AM EDT

OTTAWA--Canada unexpectedly shed jobs in June and the unemployment rate climbed, as a surge of hiring in the construction sector was offset by the biggest decline in part-time jobs in nearly two years, Statistics Canada said Friday.

Employment in Canada fell 9,400 in June, versus market expectations for a gain of 20,000, according to economists at Royal Bank of Canada. The unemployment rate in June rose to 7.1% from the previous month's 7% reading, as more people searched for work. The consensus was for a 7%.

On a year-over-year basis, Canada added 72,300 jobs, for a meager advance of 0.4% -- which the data agency said marked the slowest annual rate of employment growth in over four years. On a per-month basis, Canada added roughly 6,000 jobs over the past 12 months to the end of June.

Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com

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DATA SNAP: Canada Sheds 9,400 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Rises to 7.1%