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Canada’s Jobless Rate Rises to 6.8% Despite December Hiring

          A employee sorts batteries on a conveyor belt at a recycling facility in Port Colborne, Ontario. Canada’s unemployment rate climbed to 6.8% in December , even though the economy added 8,200 jobs during the month. The increase in unemployment wasn’t driven by widespread layoffs but by a surge in the number of people entering the labour force and actively looking for work. December Highlights Unemployment rate: Up from 6.5% to 6.8% Employment: Net gain of 8,200 jobs Labour force: Expanded significantly, outpacing job creation Full-time work: Increased Part-time work: Declined Why the Rate Rose Economists point out that the rise in unemployment reflects renewed labour market participation , not a weakening economy. More Canadians felt confident enough to start job hunting, but hiring didn’t keep pace with the influx of job seekers. This marks the fourth straight month of employment growth , yet December also saw the largest increas...

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Bank of Canada Diverges from Fed, Signals No Rate Cuts Soon

 

The Bank of Canada has made it clear that interest rates will not be coming down anytime soon, putting it on a divergent path from the U.S. Federal Reserve, which said this week that easing could be on the timetable. 

Inflation slowed to 3.1% in October, down from a peak of more than 8% last year, but it has remained above the bank’s 2% target for 31 months. Governor Tiff Macklem said that the bank has not started discussing rate cuts yet, as it’s too early to have that discussion.

The bank is still discussing whether it has raised interest rates enough and how long they need to stay where they are.


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