OTTAWA -- Canada's employment level was virtually unchanged last month as a net gain in Ontario jobs was offset by losses in Alberta, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Statistics Canada's latest labour force survey says the national unemployment rate still crept up to 7.2 per cent from 7.1 per cent, as more people entered the job market.
It says there were 5,700 fewer jobs recorded but the number was within the survey's margin of error
The report found a nationwide net increase in the services industry only partially made up for a drop in employment in the goods-producing sector.
The survey says the oil-producing provinces of Alberta and Newfoundland were among the hardest hit as their job losses climbed amid the severe oil-price slump.
The agency says Alberta suffered a net decline of 21,900 full-time positions in January, with the bulk of the decrease concentrated in agriculture and manufacturing. The drop was offset in part by an increase in part-time work.
The report says Newfoundland showed a net decrease of 2,400 jobs last month -- knocking employment down 3.1 per cent compared to the year before.
The agency says Ontario was the only province to show significant growth last month as it added 19,800 net positions, including 16,300 full-time jobs. Compared to a year earlier, Ontario showed a net gain of 100,200 jobs, an increase of 1.5 per cent.
