Statistics Canada scheduled to say how labour market fared in February

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada is scheduled to say this morning how the job market fared in February after it suffered a setback to start the year.

The Canadian economy lost 200,000 jobs in January as Omicron-related restrictions forced the closure of businesses and sent workers home.

The unemployment rate also rose half a percentage point to 6.5 per cent, marking the first increase in the rate in nine months.

RBC economists Nathan Janzen and Rannella Billy-Ochieng expect to see three-quarters of the January losses recouped in February as restrictions eased.