Statistics Canada says the country’s unemployment rate is down to 5.6 per cent – the lowest level since they began measuring the data more than 40 years ago.

They say the addition of 94,100 new jobs in November is responsible for the drop. The influx of new jobs marked the labour force survey’s largest monthly increase since March 2012 where 94,000 jobs were added.

Roughly 89,900 of those jobs were full-time positions. The private sector gained 78,600 positions in November, while the public sector added 8,300 jobs.

Employment rose in six provinces with Quebec and Alberta leading in gains.

Friday’s report by Statitics Canada also contained concerning details about pay rates. According to The Canadian Press, year-over-year average hourly wage growth for permanent employees continued its decline in November to 1.46 per cent – to deliver its
weakest reading since July 2017.