Canada added 6,600 jobs added in July from June, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by Statistics Canada. The unemployment rate remained at 6.8% for the sixth consecutive month.

The number of full-time jobs fell by 17,300 in July, but part-time jobs rose by 23,900. On a year-over-year basis, employment was up by 161,400 jobs, an increase of 0.9%.

Employment rose in professional, scientific and technical services as well as public administration. However, fewer people worked in finance, insurance, real estate and leasing. The number of self-employed workers rose in July, while there was little change among public and private sector employees.

Total employment in Canada was approximately 17.9 million.

By province, employment rose in Quebec and Nova Scotia but decreased in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Prince Edward Island.

Job growth in Ontario was flat. The province lost 4,600 full-time jobs but gained 4,700 part-time jobs in July. Ontario’s unemployment rate fell to 6.4% in July, the lowest rate since September 2008, from 6.5% in June.