Canada's payrolls up 1.3% annually in December

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Canada's payroll employment was up 1.3% annually in December, according to figures released Wednesday by its statistical agency.

Payroll employment was up 223,500 in December, compared to the same month in 2022, Statistics Canada said in a statement.

The figure rose 31,600, or 0.2%, in December from the previous month, it said.

The number of job vacancies, however, held steady at 637,400 in December for the third consecutive month.

"Job vacancies were down by 209,200, or 24.7%, compared with December 2022, and down by 365,900, or 36.5%, from the record high of 1,003,200 reached in May 2022," said the statement.

Average weekly earnings were down 1.1% on a monthly basis, but increased 3.8% in December year-on-year.