The number of jobs in Canada rose by 63,800 jobs in September for total employment of nearly 20.3 million, Statistics Canada reported today. This exceeds the average employment growth of 30,000 jobs per month since the beginning of the year.

The gains were more than twice the 25,000 new jobs economists were expecting for the month, CBC News reported; they were concentrated in part-time jobs and in the education sector.

Tu Nguyen, an economist with accounting and consultancy firm RSM Canada, told CBC news that the surge in part-time work could be tied to the ongoing influx of immigrants, as “newcomers might not find full-time work right away.”

“To keep the unemployment rate constant, approximately 50,000 additional jobs per month are needed given the immigration-driven population growth,” she said. “September’s numbers are on track to achieve this and are representative of a more balanced job market where employers are able to find talent when needed.”

Part-time jobs rose by 47,900, while the number full-time jobs rose by 15,800.

Canada’s unemployment rate remained at 5.5% in September for the third consecutive month.

Educational services added the most jobs, up by 66,000 jobs; the 4.5% increase offset a decrease of 44,000 educational services jobs in August. Employment also increased in transportation and warehousing, up by 19,000 jobs, or 1.8%.

Fewer people were employed in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, down 1.4%; construction, down 1.1%; and information, culture and recreation, down 1.4%.

The number of private-sector jobs was little changed in September, but despite seeing little growth since June, the number of private sector employees was up 411,700 on a year-over-year basis and accounted for 74.6% of the overall net increase in employment over this period.

The number of public-sector jobs increased in September by 36,600 jobs, the first increase since January.

Employment increased in six provinces in September. Quebec led growth among the provinces by adding 38,700 jobs in August, followed by British Columbia, which added 25,700 jobs. Meanwhile, Employment declined by 37,800 jobs in Alberta and by 2,700 jobs in New Brunswick.

Ontario added 19,900 jobs in September, and its unemployment rate edged up to 6.0% from 5.9% in August.