Employment growth across Canada is slowing as new COVID-19 restrictions are implemented in parts of the country, according to Statistics Canada.
After adding 378,000 jobs in September, the country saw growth of just 84,000 in October, keeping the unemployment rate steady at 8.9 per cent.
Most of the employment increase in October was in full-time work, which rose by 69,000. The number of people working part-time was virtually unchanged, said the agency.
“Employment increases in several industries were partially offset by a decrease of 48,000 in the accommodation and food services industry, largely in Quebec,” the agency said Friday.
In fact, it StatCan said it was the first time since April that employment declined in the accommodation and food services industry.
Several industries saw employment exceed February levels last month, including professional, scientific and technical services; wholesale trade; and educational services.
StatCan said the number of unemployed Canadians remains at around 1.8 million, which is about 683,000 above pre-COVID levels in February.
Employment levels were closest to their pre-COVID February levels in Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and New Brunswick.
In New Brunswick, the economy lost 1,200 part-time jobs but added 3,700 full-time positions, pushing the unemployment rate down to 10.1 per cent.
The rate in Saint John held steady at 10 per cent while the rate in Moncton climbed by more than a percentage point to 8.3 per cent.
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