The unemployment rate moved up to 5.7 per cent, rising from a four-decade low of 5.4 per cent in May. Hourly wage growth was up 4.5 per cent from a year ago. (The Logic)

Talking point: This is the second straight month of negative job growth following a decline of 2,200 jobs in June. The mounting decreases pale in comparison to the record growth from earlier this year, when 247,500 jobs were added in the first half of 2019. There are some signs July’s numbers are the leading indicator of a slowdown. The number of people employed by the private sector dropped 69,300, the most since the last recession. There were signs of strength, however. Hourly wage growth is the highest annual rise in a decade and the construction sector is on the rise with 25,000 jobs added.