Canada's economy added 35,800 jobs in August, slightly more than expected, although the pace of employment creation was slower than in the first half of the year, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday.

Market operators had predicted a gain of 30,000 jobs in August after a surprise drop of 9,300 positions in July -- the first decline of the year. The August unemployment rate edged up to 8.1 percent from 8.0 percent in July as more people entered the labour force.

"Monthly gains in employment averaged 13,000 in July and August, compared with an average monthly increase of 51,000 during the first six months of the year," Statscan said in its daily bulletin.

Full-time jobs increased by 79,900 while part-time positions dipped by 44,100. The educational sector added 68,000 jobs in August after a reported loss of 65,300 positions in July -- a figure which analysts at the time dismissed as unrealistic.

The average hourly wage of permanent employees, closely watched by the Bank of Canada for inflation pressures, rose 2.3 percent in August from a year earlier. The equivalent figure for July was 2.6 percent.