Quebec had the best performance in all of North America in terms of job creation. While jobs were lost in other parts of Canada during the month of September, more than 14,000 new jobs were created in Quebec. Since June 2009, more than 125,000 jobs have been created in Quebec, which means Quebec has created almost twice as many new jobs as were lost in the recession of 2008-2009.

Housing starts increased in September, another good indication of the strength of the economy in Quebec. Multi-unit construction, such as condos and apartment buildings, rose more than 25% compared to September of last year.

Economic diversification is another reason Quebec has performed better than any other jurisdiction in North America during the recent downturn. The economy is Quebec does not rely on any one sector or industry.

The unemployment rate in Quebec dropped to 7.7% in September from 8.2%.

The overall unemployment rate in Canada is projected to remain around 8%.