Total Canadian employment declined by 52,000 jobs in August, reversing similar sized gains from July.  Part-time job losses, concentrated in Ontario, were the culprit behind the out-sized decline, falling by 92,000 jobs while full-time jobs rose by 40,000.   The national unemployment rate increased 0.2 points to 6 per cent and total hours worked across the economy rose 1.6 per cent.  Total employment was up 0.9 per cent over this time last year.
 
In BC, employment rose for a second consecutive month as the economy added close to 10,000 jobs in August. On a year-over-year basis, employment was flat and the provincial unemployment rate rose 0.3 points to 5.3 per cent as more people were actively searching for work.