Employment in Canada remained virtually unchanged in April with a loss of only 2,100 jobs, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by Statistics Canada.

The number of full-time jobs edged down by 2,400 in April and part-time jobs rose by only 400.

Compared to the same month a year ago, Canada was up by 144,000 jobs in April, an increase of 0.8% with gains in both full-time and part-time work.

Canada’s unemployment rate remained at 7.1%.

Total employment in Canada was approximately 18.0 million in April.

By province, employment declined in Alberta and Manitoba, while it increased in British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick.

Employment in Ontario was essentially unchanged in April compared to the previous month with a loss of 3,300 jobs, but part-time jobs replaced full-time employment as the province lost 24,200 full-time jobs but gained 20,800 part-time jobs. An increase in the number of people searching for work pushed the unemployment rate up to 7.0% from 6.8% in March.

Elsewhere, British Columbia added 21,400 full-time jobs but lost 8,400 part-time jobs.