Statistics Canada will say this morning how the labour market fared last month as governments imposed lockdowns and renewed restrictions aimed at slowing the rising spread of COVID-19.
In March, the economy outpaced expectations and added 303,000 jobs as restrictions rolled back.
The gain put the labour market 1.5 per cent below the pre-COVID level in February 2020.
The unemployment rate also fell to a pandemic-era low of 7.5 per cent in March.
But then COVID-19 variants spread through much of the country, case counts spiked and hospitals became overloaded.
With lockdowns in April, economists expect the jobs report today to show a drop in employment with restrictions forcing the closure of high-touch businesses like restaurants and bars.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
