(Adds details of release, background)
OTTAWA, July 8 (Reuters) - Canada unexpectedly lost 700 jobs
in June but the unemployment rate dipped to an 11-month low of
6.8 percent as the number of people seeking work fell,
Statistics Canada data indicated on Friday.
Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a gain of 5,000
positions, and expected the jobless rate to rise to 7.0 percent
from 6.9 percent in May. The unemployment rate last hit 6.8
percent in July 2015.
Canada's economy is struggling to adjust to weak oil prices
that have depressed demand and led to layoffs in the energy
industry. The labor participation rate dropped to 65.5 percent,
the lowest since December 1999.
Full-time positions dropped by 40,100 while part-time jobs
rose by 39,400. The construction and manufacturing sectors lost
28,700 and 12,900 jobs respectively while accommodation and food
services grew by 20,200 positions.
In the 12 months to June, the number of people employed
edged up by 107,600, or 0.6 percent, with the majority of gains
in part-time work. The six-month average for employment growth
was 7,300 jobs, down from 11,200 in May.
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Graphic - Canada jobs, unemployment http://link.reuters.com/fax39t
Graphic - Full-time vs. part-time http://link.reuters.com/pev29v
Graphic - Temporary vs. permanent http://link.reuters.com/xuf98v
Graphic - Canada economic dashboard http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/15/sc-canada/index.html
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