Employment rose by 40,000 in Canada in August. (Photo: 123RF)
Ottawa— Statistics Canada said Canada’s unemployment rate remained at 5.5% last month after rising for three straight months.
The federal agency adds that in Quebec the unemployment rate fell by 0.2% to 4.3% and employment increased by 14,800.
Employment rose by 40,000 in Canada in August, but that growth was outpaced by population growth, and the employment rate, which measures the share of the population aged 15 and over who is working, rose slightly.
Statistics Canada says employment increased last month among men and women in the core working-age group (25 to 54), while it remained stable among young people aged 15 to 24.
Employment gains last month were mostly in professional, scientific and technical services and construction, while declines were mostly in education and manufacturing.
In New Brunswick, employment rose by 1,600 in a month, but the unemployment rate rose to 7.7% last month from 6.2% in July.
In Prince Edward Island, employment increased by 1,800 in August and the unemployment rate fell from 8.1% to 7.6%. In Nova Scotia the rate fell from 7.7% to 7% and employment fell by 3,600.
Statistics Canada notes that the country’s average hourly wage rose 4.9% year-over-year to $33.47 last month, after rising 5% in July.
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