Canadian Employment Surges in September, Led by Manufacturing and Alberta

Canada’s job market experienced a significant rebound in September, adding 31,000 positions, reversing recent downward trends and signaling potential strength in the national economy.

Manufacturing saw a notable increase, gaining 28,000 jobs – its first rise since January – while the health care and social assistance sectors added 14,000 positions. Agriculture also contributed to the gains, with an increase of 13,000 jobs, according to Statistics Canada. This positive shift comes as the Bank of Canada closely monitors employment data when considering future interest rate adjustments.

Alberta spearheaded the national growth, adding 43,000 jobs and lowering its unemployment rate to 7.8 percent. New Brunswick and Manitoba also reported employment increases, although their unemployment rates rose slightly due to increased labor force participation. Conversely, Newfoundland and Labrador experienced a decline in employment. For more information on provincial labour markets, see the Job Bank.

Wage growth continued to exceed inflation, with average hourly wages rising 3.3 percent year-over-year to $36.78. Officials indicated they will continue to monitor these trends to assess the overall health of the Canadian labour market in the coming months.