After increasing for three consecutive months, the country’s unemployment rate remained at 5.5% in August. In Quebec, the unemployment rate increased from 4.5% in July to 4.3%.

Employment rose by 40,000 in Canada in August, says Statistics Canada. This employment growth has been outpaced by population growth and the proportion of the population aged 15+ who are in employment fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9%.

The unemployment rate remained at 5.5%, after increasing for three consecutive months in May, June and July.

Employment increased in the professional, scientific and technical services sector and in the construction sector. There were fewer people working in construction in British Columbia (-33,000; -13.5%) in August 2023 compared to August 2022, but there were more in Quebec (19,000; 6.3%). ).

In August 2023, employment increased by 2.8% (21,000) in the “other services” sector (which includes personal services and repair services) and also increased in the transportation and transportation sector. warehousing (13,000; 1.2%).