The economy adds 303,000 jobs in March

PRINCE GEORGE- The Statistics Canada number crunchers says the economy added 303,000 jobs in March as employment increased, with gains in sectors hardest hit by public health restrictions. The March increase puts employment 296,000 shy of the pre-COVID level in February 2020. It also sent the national unemployment rate to 7.5 per cent, down from 8.2 per cent in February, bringing the rate to a pandemic-era low. BC’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.9 percent ,while the jobless rate in Prince George dipped to 5.9 percent last month from 6.4 the previous month. The jobs numbers come just over a week before the federal Liberals release a budget where employment levels are expected to be used as a gauge for planned stimulus measures.