New Brunswick's unemployment rate hits 10.9%

New Brunswicks jobless rate jumped to 10.9 per cent as the province shed 3,200 jobs in April, according to Statistics Canada.

The monthly labour force report indicated that 2,600 full-time jobs and another 700 part-time jobs disappeared last month. The province's labour force also shrank by 1,900 people.

The unemployment rate has held above 10 per cent since July 2012.

The jobless figure remained largely unchanged in New Brunswick's two largest cities.Moncton's unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent in April up from 6.6 per cent in March.

Similarly, Saint John's unemployment rate was 9.2 per cent in April up from 9.1 per cent in March.

Northern New Brunswick continues to have the highest unemployment rates in the province.

Statistics Canada reported the jobless rate in the Campbellton-Miramichi area in April was 21.1 per cent compared to 19.6 per cent in April 2012.

Meanwhile, the unemployment level in Edmundston-Woodstock was 12.6 per cent, which was down from 13.4 per cent last April.

The unemployment rate is still above 10 per cent in southwestern New Brunswick. The monthly labour force report showed a 10.6 per cent unemployment rate in Saint John-St. Stephen compared to 9.9 per cent in April 2012.

The lowest regional unemployment rate in April was in the Fredericton-Oromocto area, where it was 8.3 per cent last month compared to 7.6 per cent at the same time last year.

Unemployment also increased in eastern New Brunswick compared to the same time the last year. Statistics Canada says the jobless rate in the Moncton-Richibucto region was 9.5 per cent last month compared to nine per cent last year.

Meanwhile, Canadas economy added 12,500 jobs in April, according to Statistics Canada.

The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.2 per cent.