OTTAWA — Employment increased by 29,000 in March, driven by gains in part-time work, reports CMHC. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.8%. Over the first quarter, employment was up 0.4%, totalling 63,000, the result of more part-time work.
However, StatCan reports that the value of building permits was down 0.9% to $6.1 billion in February. This was the second consecutive monthly decline. Lower construction intentions in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta were responsible for the decrease at the national level. The value of permits in the non-residential sector fell 5.4% to $2.0 billion, while residential permits rose 1.5% to $4.1 billion, following an 8.1% decline in January.
