Canada unemployment up slightly at 7% in August

Canada's unemployment rate rose slightly to 7.0 percent in August, as the economy added 12,000 jobs but more people sought work, the government's statistical agency said Friday.

Analysts had expected the jobless rate to remain unchanged at 6.8 percent after it had held steady for the six previous months.

The oil-exporting country entered recession in the first half of the year, hit hard by a global drop in oil prices, but analysts expect the economy to pick up in the second half of 2015.

According to Statistics Canada, the economy added 12,000 jobs in August -- 54,000 full-time jobs were created, offsetting a loss of 42,000 part-time positions.

However, 52,000 more people started looking for work, sending the unemployment rate ticking up.

Self-employment was down slightly but the number of public administration jobs increased for a third consecutive month, offsetting previous declines, and universities continued to add faculty and other staff.

Employment gains were seen in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

Women aged 55 and older saw a bump while employment edged down for both sexes aged 25 to 54.