Canada’s Economy Sheds 68,300 Jobs in September

Canada’s labour market weakened in September, shedding 68,300 jobs after a 41,700-job decline in August. The unemployment rate edged up to 6.5%, while the employment rate fell to 60.6%. Losses were nearly evenly split between full-time and part-time work. Public-sector employment dropped by 70,000, with education and healthcare among the hardest-hit areas. Young workers also faced steep declines, losing 48,000 jobs. Despite the monthly downturn, employment remained 95,000 higher than a year earlier, and economists cautioned that monthly figures can fluctuate.