Canada shed three million jobs in the last two months due to the coronavirus lockdown, causing the unemployment rate to shoot up to 13 per cent in April, AFP cited government reports on Friday.

That rate more than doubled, following a relatively small increase compared to the previous month when restrictions started to be put in place, its statistical agency said.

The new rate is second only to the 13.1pc observed during a recession in 1982, but lower than analysts had forecast.

All of this has led to 6.7 million Canadians applying for unemployment benefits or government aid, and just over one in five Canadian households reporting difficulties meeting financial obligations.