Canada's unemployment rate decreased to 6.5% in November, marking a 16-month low. This decline from October's 6.9% comes after a trend of rising unemployment earlier in the year, including a peak of 7.1% in September. Statistics Canada reported that the economy added 54,000 jobs last month, exceeding expectations. The job growth was primarily driven by an increase in part-time positions. Over the past three months, the economy has added a total of 181,000 jobs, following a period of stagnant employment from January to August. Economists had predicted job losses for November, making the actual gains a surprise. Healthcare and social assistance sectors saw the most significant growth, contributing 46,000 jobs. Accommodation and food services added 14,000 jobs, while natural resources gained 11,000. However, the manufacturing and wholesale and retail trade sectors experienced job losses during the same period. The layoff rate remained stable at 0.7%, nearly unchanged from 0.8% a year ago. Part-time job growth outpaced full-time positions, with part-time employment increasing by 103,000 jobs compared to 78,000 for full-time work since September. The private sector saw a rise of 52,000 employees last month, while the public sector and self-employed workers remained relatively unchanged. The total labor force decreased by 26,000 in November, leading to a 0.2 percentage point drop in the participation rate to 65.1%. Youth unemployment also improved, falling to 12.8% in November from a high of 14.7% in September. Average hourly wages increased by 3.6% year-over-year, rising to $37.00 an hour, up from $35.73 in October. Alberta reported the most job gains, adding 29,000 positions, while New Brunswick and Manitoba also saw increases. Employment levels remained unchanged in other provinces. Overall, the job market showed signs of recovery, particularly among younger workers, who had faced challenges earlier in the year.