In Canada, the unemployment rate has hit its lowest level since the start of the pandemic

The unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage points in Canada last month from July to 7.1%, its lowest level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The unemployment rate peaked at 13.7% in May 2020 and has been declining since.

Statistics Canada adds that in Quebec, the unemployment rate was measured at 5.8% in August, whereas it had risen to 6.1% in July. Among the Canadian provinces, only the rate of 5.7% recorded in Manitoba was lower than that of Quebec last month.

Thanks mainly to full-time work, employment rose by 90,000 last month in Canada, up for a third consecutive month. Employment stands at 156,000 from its February 2020 level, the closest it has been since the start of the health crisis.

Most of the increases occurred in August in the service industries, particularly accommodation and food services.

Employment increased in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia in August. The other provinces recorded little or no change in this area.

In New Brunswick, compared to July, the unemployment rate remained stable in August at 9.3%. In Nova Scotia, it declined from 8.4% to 7.8% while it increased in Prince Edward Island, from 9.6% to 10.6%.

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