Statistics Canada says employment was up in four provinces in October, while Quebec recorded a decline. Employment rose in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick in October. There was little change in the other provinces. In Saskatchewan, employment increased by 9,100 or up 1.5 per cent in October, compared to September, the second consecutive monthly increase. The unemployment rate fell 0.5 percentage points to 4.4 per cent, while the employment rate rose 0.8 percentage points to 64.5 per cent.

Employment increased by 38,000 in Alberta which is also a 1.5 per cent increase in October, offsetting the decline in September. Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate was little changed at 5.8 per cent. In the 12 months to October, employment in the province rose by 92,000 which is up 3.8 per cent with sizable gains in health care and social assistance, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, and natural resources.

Nationally the unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 5.7 per cent in Canada, marking the fourth monthly increase in the past six months. That’s up from 5.5 per cent in September.