Job numbers for December shows increase in unemployment rate

Statistics Canada has released the job numbers for December.

Nationally, the unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points to 6.8 percent in December. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the unemployment rate also increased by 0.3 percent.

More people were working in health care and social assistance, as well as in other services such as personal and repair services.

At the same time, fewer people were employed in professional, scientific and technical services, accommodation and food services, and utilities.

The unemployment rate for youth aged 15 to 24 rose 0.5 percentage points to 13.3 percent in December.