ZCZC
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CANADA-UNEMPLOYMENT
Canada reports strong job growth as elections near
OTTAWA, Oct 12, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Canada reported strong employment figures
Friday with its general election just 10 days away.
The economy created 54,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate
dropped 0.2 point to 5.5 percent, Statistics Canada said.
The numbers are good news for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of the Liberal
Party, who is in a neck and neck race with Conservative rival Andrew Scheer
in polls ahead of the October 21 voting.
In Friday’s jobs report the agency said the number of people looking for
work increased but the unemployment rate still fell because of robust job
creation.
This added to 81,000 jobs created in August. Canada’s unemployment rate is
now at its lowest level in more than 40 years.
The rise in September was fueled by gains in full time employment,
Statistics Canada said.
The number of self-employed people rose, as did employees in the public
sector but there were job losses in the private sector.
The agency added that growth in employment was concentrated among both men
and women aged 25 to 54.
BSS/AFP/HR/0955