The unemployment rate in Canada improved slightly to 6.7 percent in June from May's 6.8 percent, which was the lowest since June 2000, Statistics Canada reported Friday.

A total of 52,000 full-time jobs were created in June but this was offset by the loss of 38,000 part-time jobs, leaving the number of new jobs at 14,000.

Construction and education were the two major factors to register job increases. The increase by 21,000 new positions in construction in June left employment in that industry up 7.6 percent since June 2004. Employment in education was up 11,000 in June, part of a longer term trend towards more jobs in that industry.

Declines in June were mainly in scenic and sightseeing transportation as well as in warehousing and storage. Employment also declined in information, culture and recreation with losses mainly in amusement, gambling and recreation as well as in broadcasting and telecommunications, the report said.

Source: Xinhua