Canada sheds 68,000 jobs, pushing unemployment rate to 6.5%

Canada’s unemployment rate ticked up to 6.5 per cent in September from 6.4 per cent in August after the economy shed 68,000 jobs month over month.

According to the new Labour Force Survey published on Friday, the job losses were split evenly between full-time (35,000 positions lost) and part-time (33,000 positions lost) employment.

Most of the job losses were reported in the educational services sector, which lost 35,000 jobs or a decrease of 2.2 per cent month over month in September. Employment in the health care and assistance sector also dipped by 23,000 jobs or 0.8 per cent month over month during the same time period, as well as the manufacturing sector, which lost 13,000 jobs or 0.7 per cent month over month.

Meanwhile, employment increased in agriculture; professional, scientific and technical services; accommodation and food services; business, building and other support services; and “other services” — which includes repair and maintenance as well as personal or household services.

September marks the second consecutive month of employment declines, after the economy added 181,000 jobs from April to July.

On a year-over-year basis, employment was up by 95,000 jobs or 0.5 per cent in September.

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