Ottawa, Rajab 19, 1436, May 8, 2015, SPA -- The economy of Canada lost 19,700 jobs in April as losses in part-time work offset gains in full-time positions, while the unemployment rate remained at 6.8 percent, Statistics Canada (Statscan) said Friday. Economists had expected a much smaller net job loss of 5,000 positions. The data highlighted that Canada still is struggling to strengthen employment six years after the end of a severe recession. In April, part-time employment fell by 66,500 jobs, the biggest drop since March 2011. Full-time employment rose by 46,900, Statscan said. Over the past 12 months, the economy created 129,100 jobs, an advance of only 0.8 percent, while the six-month average for employment growth was 2,600 jobs, down from 16,300 in March. Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz, who long has expressed concern over the weak jobs market, last week forecast the economy would return to full employment by 2016. --SPA 19:57 LOCAL TIME 16:57 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w