Canada's economy generated 23,000 jobs in August as the unemployment rate held at a 33-year low of 6.0 percent, statistics Canada said Friday.

The report was better than expected by analysts, who had predicted on average a gain of 18,000 jobs.

The gains brought to 232,000 the number of net jobs created in Canada since the start of the year, the government agency said.

Construction employment grew by 16,000 in August, while the utilities industry added 3,900. Employment in manufacturing was unchanged in August following modest gains in July.

Hefty gains were seen in educational services, which added 33,000 jobs in August, partially offsetting a July decline. Most of the increase was in Ontario's primary and secondary education sector.

Hourly wages rose four percent year-over-year, ahead of the 2.2 percent inflation rate, the report noted.

Craig Alexander, economist at TD Bank Financial Group, said the surprising gains highlight "the picture of strength of the Canadian economy," but cautioned that problems from the Us housing crisis and subprime credit squeeze may not yet be reflected in the data.

"Financial markets will likely discount these trends in Canadian economic growth and employment since they do not reflect the fallout from the recent financial turmoil," he said.