Canada lost 68,300 jobs in September, unemployment rises

Statistics Canada reported that employment fell by 68,300 jobs in September, extending the decline for a second consecutive month and sharply missing economists’ expectations for a modest increase. The unemployment rate rose to 6.5% from 6.4% in August, according to the Labour Force Survey released October 9. The September loss followed a decline of 41,700 jobs in August. Economists had forecast a gain of 9,200 jobs for September. The losses over the two months totaled 110,000, with September’s decrease split nearly evenly between full-time and part-time work, according to the reported data. Young workers experienced the largest decline by age group. Employment among people aged 15 to 24 fell by 48,000 in September, while their unemployment rate remained little changed at 13%. Women aged 25 to 54 also lost 28,000 jobs, according to the data. Educational services recorded a decline of 35,000 jobs, while healthcare and social assistance lost 23,000. Manufacturing employment fell by about 13,000, according to Statistics Canada figures reported after the release. The data also showed that average hourly wages for permanent employees grew 2.