By Paul Vieira

OTTAWA--Canadian employment declined in April after two straight months of robust job growth, the result of a fresh round of economic restrictions to contain a deadly third wave of Covid-19 infections.

The country's labor market lost a net 207,100 jobs in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, Statistics Canada said Friday. Market expectations were for the economy to lose 162,500 jobs, according to economists with TD Securities.

The unemployment rate rose to 8.1% in April from March's 7.5% reading. Expectations were for the unemployment rate to climb to 7.8%.

With the April data, Canadian employment is now 2.6% below prepandemic levels.

Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

05-07-21 0855ET