Statistics Canada reported on Thursday that the number of initial and renewal claims for unemployment insurance benefits in Canada declined by 12.6% to 229,200 in July from a year earlier.

On a monthly basis, claims fell by 1.5% in July.

The largest decrease was recorded in Ontario. Claims in Ontario dropped by 28.0%.

The number of people receiving regular jobless benefits in July rose 2.0% from the previous month. The increase was driven by rises in British Columbia and Ontario.