Canada’s unemployment rate falls to 7.1% in August

Watch: Stephen Harper discusses latest jobs report

Canada’s jobless rate fell to 7.1 per cent in August from 7.2 per cent the previous month, Statistics Canada reported Friday.

The agency says most of the 59,000 net jobs created during the month were in part-time work.

Employment increased in Ontario and Alberta, while it fell in Manitoba and was little changed in the other provinces.

Employment was up by 44,000 in Ontario, where the jobless rate was 7.5 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. The province’s employment growth of 2.2 per cent outdid the national average of 1.4 per cent.

READ MORE:  Sorry kid, older workers need that part-time job more than you do

In Alberta, employment rose by 15,000, which Statistics Canada says is the fourth notable increase in five months. The province’s unemployment rate was 4.8 per cent.

For the second month in a row, employment fell in Manitoba. But fewer people looking for work brought the unemployment rate in that province down to 5.2 per cent.

Statistics Canada said employment in health-care and social assistance rose in August, offsetting a decline in July.

“Employment in this industry has been on a long-term upward trend and has increased by 2.5 per cent since August 2012,” the agency said.

There were also more people working in information, culture and recreation jobs, as well as in accommodation and food services and in construction.

READ MORE: U.S. unemployment rate falls to 7.3%

Most of the employment gains were concentrated among people aged 55 and older, Statistics Canada said, while there was little change among youths and people between the ages of 25 and 54.

Fewer people were employed in the following industries: educational services; “other” services; finance, insurance and real estate and leasing, and agriculture.

There were 40,000 more people working as employees, mostly in the private sector, Statistics Canada said, while self-employment rose 3.6 per cent.