Canada's jobless rate at 7.4 percent

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OTTAWA, March 9 (UPI) -- Canada's unemployment rate dipped 0.2 percent to 7.4 percent in February, largely because fewer people were looking for jobs, Statistics Canada said Friday.

On an annual basis, the number of full-time workers was up 1.5 percent, or 204,000 jobs, while part-time employment declined by 2.5 percent, or 83,000 jobs, the report said.

By sector in February, job numbers fell in retail and wholesale trade; transportation and warehousing; health care and social assistance; and public administration.

"These declines were offset by increases in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing; educational services; and business, building and other support services," StatsCan said.

Among the 10 provinces, New Brunswick had the highest unemployment increase, up 0.6 percent points to 10.1 percent, the report said.

"The number of people working in Alberta was little changed in February, and the unemployment rate was 5 percent," the agency said.