Canada’s labour market weakened for a second consecutive month as the economy shed 68,000 jobs in September.
Statistics Canada reported the unemployment rate rose to 6.5 per cent, up from 6.4 per cent in August.
The decline was heavily concentrated among younger workers.
People between 15 and 24 accounted for 48,000 of the jobs lost during the month.
Employment among women between 25 and 54 also fell by 28,000, while the number of women in that age group looking for work increased.
Job losses were split between full- and part-time positions and were concentrated in the public sector.
The result was considerably weaker than economists had expected. A Reuters poll conducted before the release projected employers would add about 9,200 jobs in September.
The September decline follows the loss of 42,000 jobs in August.
Those two months reverse some of the strength seen earlier in the year, when Canada added about 181,000 jobs between April and July.
Employment remains about 95,000 positions higher than it was a year ago.
Educational services, health care and social assistance and manufacturing were among the industries posting the largest declines in September.
Quebec recorded the biggest provincial drop, losing 49,000 jobs, followed by British Columbia with 20,000.
Alberta moved in the opposite direction, adding about 23,000 positions.
The latest numbers will also be closely watched by the Bank of Canada.
It is the central bank’s final labour market report before its next interest rate decision on Oct. 28.
