Canada’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.5 per cent in August.
Statistics Canada said that followed three consecutive monthly increases in May, June and July.
The country added 40,000 jobs but that was not enough to keep up with the population growth of 103,000 people.
Employment increased among men and women aged 25 to 54 and declined among women aged 55 and older, according to the report.
There was also an increase in employment for female youth, but employment for male youth recorded a decline.
StatCan said the construction sector saw a month-over-month increase of 34,000 jobs but it was little changed from August 2022.
The manufacturing sector was down 30,000 in August, but just like construction, there was little change from a year earlier.
On a year-over-year basis, average hourly wages rose 4.9 per cent, or $1.56, to $33.47 in August. That followed an increase of five per cent in August.
At look at some of the provincial numbers
New Brunswick added 1,600 jobs in the month of August, with the gains all coming in part-time employment.
But the unemployment rate jumped to 7.7 per cent from 6.2 per cent the month before as more people were looking for work.
Nova Scotia lost 3,500 full-time jobs and 100 part-time positions for a total decrease of 3,600.
But just like in New Brunswick, with more people looking for work, the unemployment rate climbed to 7.7 per cent from seven per cent the previous month.
Prince Edward Island added 1,800 jobs as the unemployment rate fell to 7.6 per cent from 8.1 per cent.
In Ontario, the province gained 17,100 part-time jobs but lost 26,100 part-time positions for a net decrease of 17,100.
The unemployment rate climbed three-tenths of a percentage point to 5.9 per cent.
The full report can be found on Statistics Canada’s website.
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