Canada added 108,700 jobs in April -- up 0.6% for the largest gain in percentage terms since August 2002 -- bringing total employment to 17.07 million, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by Statistics Canada. The unemployment rate edged down to 8.1% in April from 8.2% in March.

Canada gained 43,800 full-time jobs and 64,800 part-time jobs.

Ontario added 40,500 jobs in April, bringing employment up to almost 6.62 million. The province added 17,800 full-time jobs and 22,700 part-time jobs.

The unemployment rate in Ontario was at 8.8% in April, unchanged from March.

Manitoba posted the lowest jobless rate among provinces in April at 4.9%.