Job creation surges, unemployment rate falls
Posted October 9, 2020 5:39 am.
Last Updated October 9, 2020 9:43 am.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Canada added 378,200 jobs in September, more than double the estimate for 150,000, as Canadians adapted to back-to-school routines and more parents got back to work.
The overall gains in September brought employment to within 720,000 of pre-pandemic levels, according to Statistics Canada.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 9 per cent from 10.2 per cent in August, beating expectations for a rate of 9.8 per cent.
The unemployment rate continues to drop after hitting a record high of 13.7 per cent in May, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced sweeping closures of businesses and put millions out of work.
Job surge: Canada added 378,200 jobs in Sept, more than double the estimate for 150,000. The unemployment rate fell to 9% from 10.2% in Aug, beating expectations for 9.8%. pic.twitter.com/V7SHVBZQF9
— Richard Dettman (@rwdettman) October 9, 2020
The agency says mothers and fathers had employment levels that matched what was recorded pre-pandemic, but notes it is taking longer for mothers to get back to regular working hours.
The number of mothers who worked less than half their usual hours in September was 70 per cent higher than in February, compared to 23.7 per cent for fathers.
Richard Dettman will have more in Business at :26 and :56.
