Canada's jobless rate up to 7.4 percent

Canada's unemployment rate edged up on a monthly basis to 7.4 percent in September, Statistics Canada reported Friday. Despite the 0.1 percent monthly jobless increase, 7.4 percent more people entered, or re-entered the work force, the agency said. On an annual basis, employment was up 1 percent, or 175,000 jobs, the agency said. The number of self-employed people increased by 34,000 in September, although "year-over-year gains in total employment were primarily among private sector employees," StatsCan said. The province of Quebec surpassed the national average with an 8 percent September unemployment rate, which the agency attributed to a surge in people re-entering the labor pool.