Canada’s unemployment rate edges down in May

Statistics Canada reported Friday that the unemployment rate fell 0.2 percent to 7.4 percent from April to May—the lowest unemployment rate in Canada since January 2009. Employment rose by 22,000 in May, bringing gains in the previous 12 months to 273,000 (up 1.6 percent year-on-year). Employment in the construction sector in Canada was little changed, although it has increased 3.3 percent over the past 12 months. Manufacturing employment, however, was down by 23,000 in May from April, but has still risen by 1.4 percent since May 2010.