Compared with July 2024, employment in Saskatchewan was up by 16,000, or 2.6 per cent. (Canadian Press files)

Economy added 246,000 jobs in August, unemployment rate 10.2%

By The Canadian Press Sep 4, 2020 | 6:53 AM

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the economy added 246,000 in August as the pace of job gains slowed compared with July, when 419,000 jobs were added.

The figure marked the fourth consecutive month of gains from COVID-19 related lockdowns this spring, bringing the number to within 1.1 million of pre-pandemic levels.

Gains in August were largely concentrated in full-time work, which had been lagging behind gains in part-time employment.

Employment also rose at a faster pace for women than men for the third straight month as Statistics Canada reported women gained about 150,000 positions in August compared to 96,000 for men.

The unemployment rate fell to 10.2 per cent in August compared with 10.9 per cent in July.

In Saskatchewan, the unemployment rate fell from 8.8 per cent in July to 7.9 per cent in August as the province added 4,700 jobs.

Economists were expecting a slightly higher gain of 275,000 jobs in August and an unemployment rate of 10.1 per cent, according to financial data firm Refinitiv.

Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate in August would have been 13 per cent had it included in calculations people who wanted a job but didn’t look for work.