Statistics Canada reported that demand for labour was little changed last month, but the number of active job seekers grew. The mismatch caused the jobless rate to jump to 6.8 per cent from 6.5 per cent in November. (The Logic)

Talking point: The Canadian economy is holding on despite the shock of U.S. trade belligerence and extreme uncertainty over where it could all lead. The employment rate, which measures the number of workers against the entire population of people aged 15 and over, was unchanged at 60.9 per cent. Full-time employment rose, led by hiring in the health-care sector. There are two ways to look at this report. The larger platoon of job seekers might suggest people are confident enough to look for work. It might also be a sign of desperation and that jobs are getting harder to find. Some 1.6 million people were unemployed in December, a 4.9 per cent increase from November.