Roger Melanson pleased with New Brunswick job numbers

New Brunswick's unemployment rate fell to 8.8 per cent in September as 1,500 jobs were added, according to Statistics Canada.

The monthly labour force report said 1,700 full-time jobs were created, while 200 part-time jobs were lost.

The August unemployment rate in New Brunswick was 10.1 per cent.

This is the first time since May that the level has been below 10 per cent.

Finance Minister Roger Melanson says those numbers are good news.

"We're pleased to see that," he said. "Investing strategically in infrastructure is something we're doing and we're seeing it's certainly giving us some results."

New Brunswick now has the lowest jobless rate in Atlantic Canada, ahead of Nova Scotia's 8.9 per cent, Prince Edward Island's 9.3 per cent and Newfoundland and Labrador's 13.6 per cent.

The positive economic news in New Brunswick stands in contrast to the national rate.

Canada's economy added 12,000 jobs last month, but the unemployment rate increased slightly to 7.1 per cent because more people were also looking for work.

New Brunswick's labour force also dropped by 4,000 in the last month. There are 8,300 fewer people in the labour force in September compared to the same time last year.

Opposition Leader Bruce Fitchsaid the reduction in the work forceis the most concerning element in the monthly labour force report.

"I'm sure Brian Gallant and his caucus are doing high fives because they are at 8.8 but they haven't done the math. Look at the math," Fitch said.

"There are 4,000 less people looking for work and year over year, there are 8,000 less people looking for work."

Fitch said people are growing tired of looking for work in New Brunswick and leaving the province in "droves."

The Tory MLA said there are 2,600 fewer jobs in the province compared to a year ago, which goes against Gallant's election promise to add jobs.

He said the economy is in a "tenuous" situation.

"It hashad a major hit in the last year and some of that can be driven right back to the policy decisions to the Gallant government," he said.

"I am not pulling any punches, when you start taxing the highest income earners in the province, they are mobile. They are smart, they can do the math."

Regional unemployment levels

The unemployment level is still the highest in northern New Brunswick.

The labour force report says the unemployment rate in Campbellton-Miramichiwas 12.6 per cent and nine per cent in Edmundston-Woodstock.

The lowest jobless rate is in Moncton-Richibucto where it stood at eight per cent in September, followed by 8.7 per cent in Fredericton-Oromocto and 8.9 per cent in Saint John-St. Stephen.