N.L. bucks national trend, ends 2016 with 5,700 fewer working people

Thousands ofNewfoundlanders and Labradorians are entering the new year without a job, according to Statistics Canada.

Data releasedFriday showthat 5,700 fewer people were working inDecember 2016 than 2015 in the province.

The 2.5 per cent decrease in overall employment is the biggest drop in any of the five provinces that saw a decline in 2016.

Across Canada, there were 218,000 more people working by the end of 2016 than in 2015.

• Canada added 54,000 jobs last month, making 2016 best year for jobs since 2012

In Newfoundland and Labrador, 5,700 fewer people were working in full-time jobs year over year.

That decline was worsened by asmall decrease in part-time work according to the agency's unadjusted numbers.

According to Statistics Canada, big drops wereseen in Newfoundland and Labrador's forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas industries.

The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate rose to 14.9 per cent by the end of 2016, up from 14.4 in2015.

Statistics Canada estimates that 3,500 fewer people were in the labour force by the end of 2016, according to the unadjusted data, meaning some have stopped looking for work altogether.