CIBC economists dug through today's Canadian employment report and see a jobs market that continuing to gradually weaken. The country added 8.8K compares compared to a -12.5K consensus but unemployment ticked up to 7.0% from 6.9%."Trade sensitive areas such asmanufacturing and transportation & warehousing unsurprisingly showed weakness, but for now that is being offset byjob growth in other areas," CIBC writes.If that continues -- which they expect -- they envision a BOC rate cut in July."Today's data suggest that while the economy isn't yet contracting, it also isn't living up to itslong-run potential resulting in a continued drift higher in the unemployment rate. We expect that the gradual rise injoblessness will continue into the second half of the year, with positive developments regarding US tariffs and somefurther interest rate cuts from the Bank of Canada required to help stabilise conditions before year-end and bring areduction in the unemployment rate again in 2026," CIBC writes.Notably, Lululemon today was surprisingly upbeat on the Canadian consumer.Meanwhile, Toronto's unemployment rate hit 9% in May, which is the highest since 2012 (ex-covid).h/t @BenRabidoux This article was written by Adam Button at www.forexlive.com.