Employment in Canada rose by 108,000 in October, recouping losses observed from May to September, Statistics Canada reported today. Total employment rose 19.7 million.

All the employment gain in October was in full-time work, boosting year-over-year growth to 472,000. Part-time employment held steady for a fifth consecutive month and remained at virtually the same level as it was in February 2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition, the number of private-sector employees rose to 74,000. Employment was little changed among employees in the public sector and among self-employed workers.

Canada’s unemployment rate held steady at 5.2% in October.

Employment increased in six provinces, led by Ontario, which added 43,000 jobs, followed by Quebec, with 28,000. However, while employment rose in Newfoundland and Labrador rose by 3,300 in October, the unemployment rate also rose — to 10.3% — as more people participated in the labor force.