The Canadian economy added a surprisingly strong 52,100 jobs in September in one of the healthiest monthly employment performances of the year, according to Statistics Canada.
Despite this, the agency said the jobless rate rose one-tenth of a point to 7.4 per cent because even more Canadians joined the labor force last month.
But the September news was still much stronger than August’s 34,000 increase in part-time employment.
Economists had expected a 10,000 gain in keeping with an economy that is growing, but very slowly.
September’s gains were mostly full-time and all in the private sector, although more than half were in the self-employment category which economists say are often lower-paying and less productive.
Regionally, most of the action occurred in Ontario, which saw a gain of 31,600 jobs. Quebec and Manitoba also saw gains.