StatsCan April Jobs Data Due Friday

OTTAWA - Statistics Canada is scheduled to release its April labour force survey on Friday morning, offering the latest snapshot of Canada's job market amid rising energy costs and global trade tensions.

Economists surveyed by Reuters anticipate the economy added 15,000 jobs last month, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 6.7 percent, according to LSEG Data Analytics. That would mark a slight acceleration from March, when employers added 14,000 jobs and the jobless rate remained unchanged.

The report arrives as Canadian businesses grapple with elevated oil prices fueled by the war in the Middle East, which have driven up gasoline costs nationwide. Higher energy expenses add pressure to households and companies already navigating economic uncertainty.

The data release follows the Bank of Canada's decision last week to keep its policy interest rate at 2.25 percent. Officials at the central bank stated they are closely monitoring the war's effects, alongside the economy's response to U.S. tariffs and trade policy shifts. At its most recent gathering, the bank signaled an upbeat medium-term growth outlook while revising inflation projections higher for the year. Governor...