Jobless claims edge up in Canada

OTTAWA, March 22 (UPI) -- The number of Canadians receiving federal jobless benefits rose 2.3 percent on a monthly basis in January to 561,100, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

In all, 12,400 more people were receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits as the national unemployment rate stood at 7.6 percent in January, the report said.

"Nationally, the number of initial and renewal claims rose by 3,700 (1.6 percent) to 242,300 in January," StatsCan said.

By province, Quebec's 4.4 percent increase in new and initial benefits claims was the highest, followed by Ontario and New Brunswick. Claims declined in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

The remaining three provinces reported little change in initial claims.