New Brunswick's economy added 1,600 jobs in September

New Brunswick's economy added about 1,600jobs and the unemployment rate dropped to 7.9 per cent in September, according to Statistics Canada's monthly labour force survey.

The province added1,500 full-time jobs, andabout 100 part-time jobs were lost.

• New Brunswick loses 1,100 jobs in August, labour force report shows
• Student website gives New Brunswickers a lesson in economics
• Dismal job numbers throw wrench into Liberal campaign

The labour force report, which was released Friday morning, showed the unemployment rate dropped to 7.9 per cent from8.3 per cent in August.

This time last year,the unemployment rate in New Brunswick remained steady at 7.8 per cent in September as 700 jobs were added.

Across Canada, the job market bounced back last month with a gain of 63,000 positions, edging the unemployment rate lower to 5.9 per cent from six per cent.

The September increase in employment was largely driven by gains in part-time work, with part-time jobs up by around 80,000.

On a year-over-year basis, Canada has gained 222,000 jobs since September 2017.

Unemployment in New Brunswick

In the Fredericton and Oromoctoarea, the unemployment rate was sitting at 4.9 per cent. That number isup from 3.6 per cent in September 2017.

In the Saint John and St. Stephen area, the unemployment rate was 6.3 per cent, up from 5.8 per cent.

In the MonctonandRichibucto area, the unemployment rate was 7.4 per cent, up from seven.

In the Edmundstonand Woodstock area, the unemployment was sitting at 1.9 per cent, up from 2.3.

In the Campbellton and Miramichi, the unemployment rate was at 8.5 per cent, an increase from eight per cent this time last year.