Statistics Canada says the economy added 30,300 jobs in February.
The unemployment rate was 5.6%, up from 5.5% in January.
In Niagara, we are facing a similar trend, with the rate up a tad from 5.2% in January to 5.5% last month.
The agency's latest labour force survey says most of the national gains were in full-time work, where there was an increase of 37,600 positions, while part-time employment declined by 7,300 compared with January.
While there were gains for young workers, employment for the core of Canadian labour force, who are aged 25 to 54, held steady for a third consecutive month in February.
Average hourly wages increased to $28.66 from $27.54 for all workers 15 years and older compared with the same month in 2019.