Vancouver, Apr 6 (IANS): Canada lost nearly 55,000 jobs in March, with unemployment up 0.2 percentage points to reach 7.2 percent, according to latest data from Statistics Canada.

There were 85,000 fewer private-sector employees in March, while the number of self-employed rose by 39,000 and the number of public-sector employees saw little change, reported Xinhua.

Compared with 12 months earlier, the number of private-sector employees increased by 1.0 percent, while the number of self-employed was up 2.1 percent. Public-sector employment changed little over the same period, the agency said.

Three industries have fewer people employed in March, namely accommodation and food services, public administration and manufacturing, while the other industries showed little change.

Despite the decline in March, employment was 1.2 percent or 203,000 above the level of 12 months earlier, with the increase mainly in full-time work, it said.