The economy continued to advance in September, with 64,000 more jobs in Canada. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.5% for a third consecutive month, but it increased from 4.3% to 4.4% in Quebec, despite good job creation.
Quebec saw the strongest job creation in Canada in September, with 39,000 more positions. This is the first significant increase in employment in the province in seven months. In the Montreal metropolitan area, the unemployment rate fell from 5.2% in August to 5% in September, a level lower than in Toronto (6.5%) and Vancouver (5.8%).
The increase of 64,000 jobs in Canada in September follows an increase of 40,000 in August. This strength in the job market is enough to surprise economists, who had predicted between 5,000 and 25,000 more jobs and an increase in the unemployment rate.
The average hourly wage is up 5% year-on-year, following increases of 4.9% in August and 5% in July. The number of hours worked increased by 2.6% year-on-year.
According to Statistics Canada, the upward trend in employment continues against a backdrop of the strongest population growth in the country since 1957. In September alone, the population aged 15 and over in the Labor Force Survey increased of 82,000.
In September, employment increased in educational services and transportation and warehousing, and decreased in financial and real estate services, construction and the information and recreation sector.
