Figures released this morning by Statistics Canada show that, after two disappointing months, Canada's labour market bounced back in August with 59,200 jobs created.
The nation's number crunchers note that the August increase was larger than expected and came after a 39,400 drop in July with little change in employment in June. Likely the dismal performance in these two months was partly a correction following the oversized surge in employment in May of 95,000.
The unemployment rate edged down to 7.1% from 7.2% holding firmly in the range established since November. Job gains were concentrated in the private sector with self-employment also posting a decent increase. Public sector employment stabilized, recording a gain of 9,000 after plunging 74,000 in July. Jobs created in August were mainly part-time (+41,800) with full-time employment up 17,400.
The increase in full-time employment largely offset July's 18,300 while the jump in part-time jobs more than fully compensated for July's 21,200 decrease. Year-to-date, employment is up 101,600 with full-time employment rising 38,400 and part-time up 63,200.
Stats Can also points out that, on a provincial basis, the largest employment gains were recorded in Ontario and Alberta while Quebec which suffered a 30,000-unit drop in July saw another 5,000 jobs lost in August. Alberta which hired 17,000 more workers in July added another 15,200 although this was outpaced by a rise in the labour force resulting in the unemployment rate ticking back up to 4.8%.
