Despite Creating 107,000 New Jobs, Canada's Unemployment Rate Remains Unchanged

October 10, 2008 3:18 p.m. EST

Otttawa, Ontario (AHN) - Statistics Canada sprang a surprise on the nation by reporting the creation of 107,000 new jobs in September.

Most of the new jobs were part-time employment for young Canadians and in the healthcare sector. It is the largest number of new work created in one month, StatsCan said.

It exceeds previous forecasts by economists of only 12,500 new jobs. But the impressive numbers failed to dent the country's unemployment rate which still stood at 6.1 percent.

Nevertheless, the large number is seen as a vote booster for the reelection bid of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whose political party experienced some setbacks in popularity ratings four days to the snap federal election on Oct. 14.