Canadian economy adds 35,900 workers, unemployment remains at 8.0 percent

Canada adds jobs in April

OTTAWA — Canada unexpectedly gained 35,900 jobs in April as the unemployment rate remained at a seven-year high of 8 percent.

Statistics Canada says Friday all of the jobs gains were in the self-employed category, which is normally a sign of labor market weakness.

Economists had forecast employment would be down about 50,000 in April.

Canada suffered its worst quarter of job losses in its history in first three months of the year. Canada lost 61,300 jobs in March, 83,000 in February and a record 129,000 in January.