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The country’s labour force beat expectations last month by gaining a healthy 67,200 net new jobs, with most of the increase concentrated in part-time and self-employed work, Statistics Canada said Friday.

Despite the surge, the agency’s latest jobs survey said the national unemployment rate didn’t budge — remaining seven per cent for the second straight month — as more people entered the workforce.

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Employment in Alberta increased by 13,000 in September. The unemployment rate was little changed at 8.5 per cent, as more people participated in the labour market.

Compared with one year earlier, there were 47,000 fewer people employed in the province and the unemployment rate was up 1.9 percentage points.

The national numbers also showed a huge boost in employment last month for Canadians aged 55 years and older, as 56,400 people in that demographic found work, including 37,900 additional positions for women.