Last month’s new jobs were created mostly in the services sector (+ 9,600). Behind these net gains, however, are losses in specific sub-sectors: business, building and other support services (-10,600), information, culture and recreation (-6,200), health care and social assistance (-3,600) and trade (-2,000). Meanwhile, job creation was reported mostly in professional, scientific and technical services (+ 10 700), in accommodation and food services (+ 7,500) and in other services (+ 6,700). Employment also got a boost in educational services (+ 7,800) with the start of the school year.

On the other hand, Quebec’s goods-producing sector suffered a net loss of 5,400 positions. While job creation was found mostly in agriculture (+ 4,100), losses were reported mainly in manufacturing (-6,800), construction (-2,500) and utilities (-500).

The Jobboom Index measures job market strength on a monthly basis and compares this performance over the past 120 months. This month’s index ranks 4th out of 120, meaning there were 116 months with weaker indices over the past 120 months. Over this same 10-year period, from September 1997 to September 2007, employment in Quebec has grown by 21 %.