Canada creates over 32,000 jobs in March

OTTAWA: Canada created around 32,000 new jobs in March but the unemployment rate remained steady at 5.8 percent, Statistics Canada said Friday.

A total of more than 68,000 full-time jobs were created last month, while over 35,900 part-time jobs were eliminated.

Goods-producing industries led March's jobs creation, with 18,300 new jobs in construction and an increase of 8,100 positions in agriculture. In the services sector, public administration added 11,900 jobs.

Meanwhile, the figure showed that the manufacturing sector was a drag on employment with a loss of 8,300 jobs during the month.

Average hourly wages were up 3.1 percent in the country from a year ago. Wages are a key point being watched by the Bank of Canada, with policymakers still seeing slack in the labor market.