The Canadian economy beat expectations to add 54,000 jobs in November, driving the unemployment rate down to 6.5 per cent from 6.9 per cent a month earlier.

It was the second consecutive monthly decline in the jobless rate, which peaked at 7.1 per cent in September, the highest it has been outside the pandemic since May 2016.

The growth in employment was driven by a rise in part-time work, Statistics Canada said on Friday . The economy has added 181,000 jobs in the last three months, after employment growth was flat from January to August of this year.

Economists had been expecting the economy to lose jobs last month.

Healthcare and social assistance led the way with 46,000 jobs added during the month, while accommodation and food services gained 14,000 jobs and natural resources

See Full Page