Canada jobless rate steady at 9-year low

OTTAWA: Canada's unemployment rate held steady at a nine-year low of 6.2 percent in September, the government statistical agency said Friday.

The rate is the same as that for August and matches an October 2008 low before the global financial crisis triggered a brief recession.

A September gain of 112,000 full-time jobs was mostly offset by a decline in part-time work, Statistics Canada said.

This resulted in a net increase of 10,000 jobs or 0.1 percent, which was almost in line with analysts' forecast of 14,000 new jobs, but not enough to move the jobless rate.

According to Statistics Canada, employment increased for people aged 55 and older, while it fell among men aged 25 to 54. Notably, people aged 65 and older saw the fastest employment growth rate among major demographic groups, rising 9.1 percent.

For the second consecutive month, Ontario was the lone province to see a notable employment gain -- driven by hiring in wholesale and retail trade, and in educational services.

There were employment declines, meanwhile, in Manitoba and Prince Edward Island.

Across Canada, there were more people working as teachers, wholesalers and retail clerks in September, while employment fell in information, culture and recreation.

Governments hired additional employees, but the number of people working in the private sector was little changed. 

The figure for self-employed workers also held steady.