Employment in Canada rose by 0.2% or 39,900 in August, Statistics Canada reported Sept. 8. Total employment was 20.2 million. The agency also reported that Canada’s population rose by 0.3%, with 103,000 new people.

Economists expected the economy to add only about 20,000 jobs, and a few were even calling for a decline, CBC News reported.

August’s employment growth was driven by full-time jobs, which rose 32,200. Part-time employment, on the other hand, rose by 0.8%, adding 7,800 jobs.

The number of employees in the public sector rose by 0.3% or 13,200, while private-sector employment fell by 0.2% or 22,700 jobs. The number of self-employed workers increased by 1.9% or 49,500 jobs in August.

Among industries, employment in professional, scientific and technical services rose by 2.8% or by 52,100 in August, offsetting a cumulative decrease of 36,000 from March to July, and employment in wholesale and retail trade increased by 42,400 jobs. Industries with declines in employment included educational services, down 44,200 jobs, and manufacturing, down 29,500 jobs in August.

Canada’s unemployment rate held steady at 5.5%, following three consecutive monthly increases in May, June and July.

Alberta led growth among the provinces by adding 17,400 jobs in August, followed by British Columbia, which added 13,200 jobs. Meanwhile, employment in Ontario held steady for a second consecutive month in August, adding 45,000 jobs.