The Canadian unemployment rate fell to 5.9% in September, the first time it has been under 6.0% since November 1974, Statistics Canada reported today. Employment rose by an estimated 51,000 in September to more than 16.9 million. Of the added jobs, 32,500 were full-time.

Ontario's unemployment rate fell to 6.2% in September from 6.4% in August. Employment in the province rose by 30,000, the first significant gain this year, according to Statistics Canada. The largest increases in employment in Ontario were in educational services and information, culture and recreation.