Jobless rate hits record low, economy adds 72,500 jobs in March: StatCan

Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate in March fell to its lowest rate on record as the economy added 72,500 jobs.

Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate in March fell to its lowest rate on record as the economy added 72,500 jobs.

The agency says the unemployment rate fell to 5.3 per cent compared with 5.5 per cent in February.

The agency says the unemployment rate in March is lowest over comparable data going back to 1976.

Statistics Canada also says the unemployment rate would have been 7.2 per cent had it included in calculations people who wanted a job but did not look for one.

That's the first time that rate has fallen to its pre-pandemic level.

Driving the job gains in March were women over age 55 finding work, and men between 25 and 54 taking jobs, primarily part-time.

Provincially, the agency says gains were concentrated in Ontario and Quebec.