Canada lost 82,600 jobs in February, and its unemployment rate rose to 7.7% from January's reading of 7.2%, Statistics Canada reported today. More than half of the job losses came from the construction industry, which shed 43,200 jobs. However, manufacturing added 24,700 jobs in February with food products manufacturing posting the biggest gain.

Total employment in Canada fell 0.5% month-over-month to 16.9 million, according to Statistics Canada. All the net job losses were in full-time employment, which fell by 110,900. The number of part-time jobs rose by 28,300.

Ontario lost 35,300 jobs in February, and the province's jobless rate rose to 8.7% from 8.0% in the previous month.

Saskatchewan registered the lowest jobless rate among all provinces at 4.7%.