Canada’s economy added 87,800 jobs and the unemployment rate fell back to 6.6 per cent in May, data showed on Friday, defying widespread expectations and showing signs of some resilience despite signs of softer economic growth.

This is the first month this year of job gains and helped wipe off almost 80 per cent of all job losses posted since the year began. The last time the economy added a significant number of jobs was October last year, Statistics Canada said.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast the unemployment rate to hold at the six-month high level reached in April at 6.9 per cent and had predicted net additions of 10,000 jobs in May.

Canada’s economy has weathered an onslaught of U.S. tariffs and trade uncertainty for more than 12 months, hitting some crucial sectors very hard and leading to job losses. It has also sucked hiring momentum and investments out from the broader economy.