OTTAWA — Transportation and warehousing was the only industry in Canada to experience a notable employment gain in October while unemployment levels continued to rise in most other sectors.

Over 22,000 jobs were created in transportation in October. However, employment in this sector has fallen by 51,000 (-5.8%) since October 2008, reports Stats Canada.

Employment fell by 31,000 in retail and wholesale trade and by 20,000 in "other services." Natural resources was also down 11,000, continuing a downward trend that began in February 2009.

Manufacturing employment was little changed in October, losses since the employment peak in October 2008 have totalled 218,000 (-11%).

Construction employment edged up slightly, building on gains observed over the previous two months. Despite these recent increases, employment is still down fallen 5.8% (-73,000) since the same period last year.

The largest job losses were in Alberta and B.C. Employment in Alberta decreased by 15,000 in October, pushing the unemployment rate up 0.4 percentage points to 7.5 percent.

Since October 2008, Alberta’s employment has fallen by 3.3 percent (-68,000), the steepest rate of decline among all provinces.

Jobs in B.C. fell by 13,000, pushing the unemployment rate to 8.3 percent.

Employment in Ontario edged down in October while the unemployment rate was little changed. Since the employment peak 12 months earlier, losses have totalled 206,000 (-3.1%), with most of the decline occurring between October 2008 and May 2009..

In Quebec, although employment was little changed in October, the unemployment rate fell 0.3 percentage points to 8.5 percent.