Statistics Canada announced that the Canadian economy added 150,000 jobs in January, an increase of 0.8%, compared to adding 104,000 jobs in December, while expectations were to add only 15,000 jobs.
On the other hand, the unemployment rate stabilized at 5.0%, while it was expected to rise to 5.1%, while the total working hours increased by 0.8%, and increased by 5.6% on an annual basis.
The largest jobs in January came from Ontario with 63 jobs, Quebec 47 thousand jobs, and Alberta 21 thousand jobs, while the wholesale and retail trade sectors topped with 59 thousand jobs, health care and social assistance with 40 thousand jobs, while the educational services sector added 18 thousand jobs
. The Canadian dollar is rising by more than 70 points against the US dollar, and is trading at 1.3374, benefiting from these figures.