Figures from Statistics Canada show Canadian employers largely put their hiring plans on ice in February.

The agency says employment was “virtually unchanged” last month amid a gain of just 1,100 jobs across the country, falling short of economists’ expectations.

Canada’s unemployment rate held steady at 6.6 per cent as population growth eased to its slowest pace since April 2022.

The rate in Newfoundland and Labrador fell by the smallest of margins, now at 10.5 per cent, down from 10.6 in January.

Nationally, more people worked in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+16,000; +1.1%) in February, the second increase in three months. On a year-over-year basis, employment in the industry was up by 60,000 (+4.3%).