Canada adds surprise 60,000 jobs in September, unemployment rate steady at 7.1%

OTTAWA - The labour market added an unexpected 60,000 jobs in September, led by gains in the tariff-struck manufacturing sector.

Statistics Canada said the unemployment rate held steady at 7.1 per cent last month.

Economists had called for a gain of just 5,000 jobs in September, coming off losses of more than 100,000 positions over the previous two months.

StatCan said gains were concentrated in full-time work with 106,000 positions added in September, more than offsetting a drop in part-time work.

The agency said total employment is up a modest 22,000 net jobs since the start of the year as U.S. tariffs continue to put pressure on critical Canadian industries.

The trade-sensitive manufacturing industry saw its first job gains since January last month and led job growth among other se