Canada Jobless Rate in August Fell to 8.8%

TORONTO — Canada’s jobless rate fell in August to 8.8%, the lowest level in 5 1/2 years, as the number of unemployed workers dropped to about 1.15 million, the government said Friday.

The government agency Statistics Canada said the estimated number of unemployed workers declined by 39,000 while employment rose by 42,000 to about 12 million, a combination that cut the jobless rate from 9.1% in July.