OTTAWA — Statistics Canada’s labour force survey on Friday showed a slight drop of 18,000 jobs in April.

The agency says that despite an uptick in March, the country has posted a net decline of 112,000 jobs over the first four months of this year.

The last time Canada lost so many jobs in a four-month window was during the pandemic.

The unemployment rate rose to 6.9 per cent, returning to where it was back in October of last year, largely because more people were looking for work.

Ontario added 42,000 jobs in April, largely in healthcare and social assistance, but that was offset by a 43,000 job loss in Quebec led by the wholesale and retail trade, and manufacturing sectors.

Statistics Canada also reported average hourly wages were up 4.5 per cent from this time a year ago.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2026.

Nick Murray, The Canadian Press