New Brunswick's unemployment rate hit 10 per cent in October as the province's economy reversed course again and shed 2,200 jobs, new figures show.

In what has become a monthly see-saw of good news followed by bad news, Statistics Canada job counts in New Brunswick in October were on the bad side again, showing the loss of 1,200 full-time and 1,000 part-time positions.

That reverses about half of what had been impressive job gains recorded by the agency in the province in September.

Over the past 12 months. New Brunswick has recorded job growth in the monthly count five times, but then followed those up with losses seven times. Overall, the province has lost 2,100 jobs during that year-long period.

Nationally, Canada gained 44,000 jobs in October, mostly in Ontario, Alberta and B.C. The national unemployment rate remained steady at seven per cent.

In New Brunswick, Statistics Canada recorded all of the job losses among men and mostly in the fields of construction and manufacturing.

Unemployment in New Brunswick is significantly higher among men (12 per cent) than it is among women (6.6 per cent).

The Fredericton-Oromocto area continued to post the province's best economic results with an unemployment rate of 6.2 per cent.

The city of Moncton also posted a rate slightly better than the national average at 6.9 per cent. Saint John's unemployment rate edged up to 7.6 per cent.

The news is much grimmer in northern New Brunswick, with the Campbellton-Miramichi area posting an unemployment rate of 14.2 per cent.