Canada’s unemployment rate fell to 5.2% in September as the economy added 21,000 net new
jobs during the month.
September’s job growth represents the first employment gains in Canada in four months,
according to Statistics Canada.
However, 21,000 new jobs is viewed as a moderate amount and is another indication that
Canada’s labour market remains near full capacity.
The unemployment rate fell to 5.2% in September from 5.4% in August. The number of hours
worked in Canada fell 0.6% in the month.
September’s rise in employment ended three consecutive months of losses from June through
August when Canada’s economy lost more than 113,000 jobs.
The labour participation rate, which has trended lower since May of this year, fell to 64.7% in
September as the number of people in the labour force declined by 20,300.
The number of public-sector employees in Canada rose in September. Education led job gains
with a 46,000 increase.
Employment was little changed in the private sector and among self-employed Canadians.
Employment increased in four of Canada’s provinces, led by British Columbia, while there were
fewer people working in Ontario and Prince Edward Island during September.
