Canadian employment fell by 41,800 in May to approximately 16.8 million, Statistics Canada reported today. Canada's unemployment rate rose to 8.4% in May from 8.0% in April.

Full-time employment dropped by 58,700 jobs in May, but an increase in part-time employment of 17,000 partially offset the full-time loss.

Manufacturing lost 58,400 jobs in May, leaving employment in that sector at almost 1.8 million.

Ontario was the only province to post a substantial loss in employment during May — it shed 59,700 jobs. Ontario's jobless rate rose to 9.4% in May from 8.7% in the previous month.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan tied for the lowest unemployment rate among provinces at 4.9% each.