The jobless rate stayed at 5.5% for a third consecutive month, Statistics Canada said. Wage growth is also beating market expectations," said Michael Greenberg, a portfolio manager for Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. "Despite the aggressive rate hikes by the Bank of Canada, clearly demand remains strong and companies continue to hire. Money markets increased bets for a rate increase later this month after the jobs figures were published. With September's robust gains, the economy is averaging 30,000 monthly employment growth this year, up from 25,000 a month earlier.

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Persons: Carlos Osorio, Michael Greenberg, Greenberg, Derek Holt, Holt, haven't, they've, we're, Statscan, Ismail Shakil, Nivedita Balu, Steve Scherer, Fergal Smith, Dale Smith, Mark Porter Organizations: Queen, West, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Statistics, Reuters, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions, Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, Thomson Locations: Toronto Ontario, Canada, Statistics Canada, U.S, Ottawa