Canada jobless rate hovers at 7.2%

Canada's unemployment for June was little changed at 7.2 percent, Statistics Canada reported Friday. On a monthly basis, unemployment was down 0.1 percent. Annually, employment was up 1 percent, or 181,000 jobs, the agency said. "The number of public sector employees increased by 39,000 in June," StatsCan said. "Employment growth over the previous 12 months was mostly among private sector employees, up 149,000." Among the sectors that had employment gains were business, building, healthcare, educational services and utilities. Declines were reported in information, culture/recreation and agriculture, the report said. Br province, Newfoundland/Labrador ranked highest in the country for unemployment at 13 percent, which the agency said was attributed to more people entering the labor force and looking for jobs.