Canada's unemployment rate unexpectedly edged higher in January, as employers added to payrolls at a slower pace the labor force grew, according to official data released Friday.
The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 7.6 percent as more people searched for work. 2,300 jobs were added across the nation last month.
Employment is up 0.7 percent since January 2011, with most of the gains coming in the first half of last year. On an annual basis, the number of full-time workers was up 1.2 percent, but the number of part-time workers declined 1.2 percent.
Employment in January edged up in manufacturing, bringing gains over the last two months to 36,000.
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