The Canadian economy slowed in the third quarter after a strong first half of the year as exports tumbled, new figures show today.
But an acceleration in hiring and wage growth last month was seen giving the central bank reason to raise interest rates again before long.
The economy added 79,500 jobs in November, Statistics Canada said today.
This was better than expectations for a gain of 10,000 and sent the unemployment rate to 5.9%, its lowest since February 2008 despite labour market participation remaining unchanged.
Average hourly wages also continued to accelerate, up 2.7% from last year in the best performance since April 2016.
The Bank of Canada, which raised interest rates twice earlier this year, has pointed to wages as one factor it is looking at to decide future policy.
The Canadian labour market has been growing for over a year and has added 390,000 jobs since last November, driven by full-time employment.
Manufacturing saw the biggest increase in the goods-producing sector last month, adding 30,400 jobs, while in the services sector, the wholesale and retail trade industry created 38,800 jobs.
The jobs figures garnered more attention from economists than the separate gross domestic product report, which showed the economy grew at an annualised 1.7% in the third quarter.
Canada's economy had been expected to slow after growth in the first half of the year that made the country a leader among its industrialised peers.
Exports were the main drag on the economy in the third quarter as shipments of vehicles and parts fell amid work stoppages and changes to certain models sent to the US market.
