Canada’s unemployment rate edged up to 6.3% last month from 6.2% in October as the economy shed 70,600 jobs in November, the biggest monthly loss since the deep recession of 1982.

The job losses announced Friday by Statistics Canada far exceeded market expectations of about 20,000.

StatsCan said most of the jobs were lost in Ontario, with manufacturing sector losing 38,300 workers.

November’s losses were inflated as the public administration sector recorded a loss of 27,700 temporary jobs related to running the federal election, StatsCan said.

Other industries with employment decreases last month included transportation and warehousing, education and agriculture.

StatsCan said the declines were spread across most demographic groups, although men and youth were most impacted, with the majority of losses hitting full-time workers.

In other jobs news, about 700 workers at a General Motors plant in Oshawa, Ont., are facing temporary layoffs starting in February, the Canadian Auto Workers union said Friday.

IE