Statistics Canada released December jobs figures on Friday (January 9). The data shows that 8,200 new jobs were added during the month, while the unemployment rate rose to 6.8 percent, up 0.3 percentage points from November. The agency attributes the gain to more Canadians actively seeking work. Analysts had expected a decrease of 5,000 jobs and a smaller increase in the unemployment rate to 6.6 percent. Among the highlights of the report was an improvement in the type of labor, as part-time jobs fell by 42,000, while full-time jobs rose by 50,000. The gains bring the total number of jobs added to the Canadian economy since September to 181,000, ending the year with strong momentum after little growth earlier in 2025. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics also released jobs data, indicating that the US economy added 50,000 jobs in December, with an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent, down 0.1…
