OTTAWA—Statistics Canada says the economy added a surprisingly strong 59,000 jobs last month, dropping the countrys unemployment rate by 0.2 points to 7.2 per cent—the lowest since June.

Economists had expected a smaller increase of about 10,000 jobs last month, following a minimal 1,800 gain in October.

The November jobs report gives hope that Canadas economy will pick up in the last months of 2012 after a disappointing summer.

Canadas economic growth stalled at 0.6 per cent in the third quarter.

Statistics Canada says five provinces showed higher employment in November and there was little change in the other five provinces.