The Canadian economy generated a larger-than-expected 107,000 new jobs in September, Statistics Canada reported Friday.

Analysts were expecting a much more modest increase of 12,500 positions. However, the bulk of the new jobs – 97,000 — were part-time.

Despite the gain, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.1%, as the increase in employment was matched by a similar rise in labour force participation, StatsCan said.

Over the first nine months of 2008, employment has increased 1.1% (+194,000), a slower pace of growth compared with 1.7% (+275,000) during the same period last year.

With September’s increase, part-time work has increased by 131,000 so far in 2008, nearly double the increase in full time. This contrasts with the first nine months of last year, when gains were mostly full time.

StatsCan said Ontario gained 52,000 jobs in September, while Quebec added 32,000, as the month saw a surprising pickup of 19,700 factory jobs.

Alberta added 17,000 jobs.

The agency said employment increased across a number of industries, including health care and social assistance (40,000); business, building and other support services (20,000); agriculture (15,000); construction (14,000); and natural resources (6,700).

Losses came in accommodation and food services (down 16,000) and utilities ( down 9,300).

The year-over-year growth in average hourly wages for September was 4.6%, well above the most recent increase of 3.5% in the Consumer Price Index. Compared with a year earlier, average hourly wages were higher for all age groups, with growth being strongest for youths and older workers.

Meanwhile, Canada’s merchandise imports declined 5.8% to $37.3 billion in August, the first decrease since March 2008, due to lower imports of energy and automotive products, StatsCan said

Exports also fell but considerably less than imports, decreasing 1.6% to $43.1 billion, as a result of lower energy exports.

As a result, Canada’s trade surplus with the world increased to $5.8 billion in August from $4.2 billion in July.

As well, StatsCan reported that the new housing price index increased, year-over-year, by 2.3% in August compared with 2.7% in July.