Economists had called for Canadian employers to create 10,000 to 15,000 jobs last month, but the government agency said 88,900 jobs were added.

Much of that growth was concentrated in the two westernmost provinces –British Columbia created 31,700 jobs, while Alberta contributed another 24,100. All four western provinces managed to post record-high employment rates.

The unemployment rate ticked up a 10th of a percentage point from December to 6.2% because more people entered the labour force looking for work, StatsCan said.

The government agency said the share of the working-age population that was employed across Canada hit a record high of 63.4% in January.

Most of the employment growth came in the service sector. Manufacturing continued to be a weak spot in Ontario and Quebec.

Alberta’s 3.3% unemployment rate was again the lowest among all provinces, while B.C.’s 4.3% rate represented a drop of almost a full percentage point.

Economists said the jobs report means no change in interest rates any time soon.

“Given the blazing job growth, it is very difficult to believe the Bank of Canada is seriously considering cutting rates, and we still believe the next move will be to hike (albeit in 2008),” BMO Capital Markets economist Doug Porter said in a commentary.