August Saw 40,000 Jobs Lost, Surprising Economists

OTTAWA - Canada's labour market stalled in August, losing 42,000 jobs, Statistics Canada reports.

The decline surprised some economists, who had predicted a fourth-consecutive month of gains since May. The unemployment rate held steady at 6.4 per cent last month, the agency said.

The latest Labour Force Survey shows the number of public sector workers fell by 20,000, declining for a third consecutive month. Jobs were little-changed in the private sector. The manufacturing industry was a bright spot in August, adding 22,000 jobs, while categories including public administration, natural resources, and utilities all booked declines.

By region, Quebec was hardest hit, losing 19,000 jobs. Ontario followed with a loss of 18,000.

According to Statistics Canada, average hourly wage growth in August was the slowest in nearly nine years. This metric slowed to two per cent on an annualized basis, from 2.8 per cent in July, and 3.3 per cent in June.

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