Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate fell for the first time in almost a year in September to 8.4 per cent as the economy created jobs for the second consecutive month.

The agency says 30,600 new net jobs were added to the labour force as the jobless rate from 8.7 per cent in August.

The report had more positives for the economy, finding that 91,600 full-time jobs were added, more than compensating for a large loss in part-time employment.

The results are far better than the 5,000 jobs increase expected by the consensus survey of economists.

Construction, manufacturing and educational services produced the most gains.

On a regional basis, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island saw significant job gains in September.

Nova Scotia, Quebec and Manitoba recorded job losses.